Mr. Seward to Mr. Pruyn
Sir: Your several despatches have been received, which bear dates and numbers as follows:
May 26, No. 29; May 26, No. 30; June 12, No. 31; June 15, No. 32; June 15, No. 33; June 16, No. 34; June 17, No. 35; June 18, No. 36; June 20, No. 37; June 22, No. 38; June 23, No. 39; June 24, No. 40; June 24, No. 41; and June 24, No. 42.
Due acknowledgments will be made to the French and British governments for the hospitalities and sympathies which were extended to you by their respective ministers on the occasion of your being driven from your residence in Yedo.
Your proceedings in relation to the claims of Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Brazil, to enter into treaty relations with Japan, are approved.
Several very important subjects are presented for consideration in your despatches. First, the destruction by fire of the residence of the legation at Yedo. Secondly, your removal of the legation to Yokohama. Thirdly, the differences between the British government and that of Japan. Fourthly, the order of the Tycoon, requiring foreigners to withdraw from the empire. Fifthly, the questions between Japan and the United States which have resulted from the occurrences thus brought under review. It will be proper to draw into connexion with this last topic the violences which have been committed against some of our citizens, as reported to this department in your previous communication, of the 12th of May last, No. 28, and which were commented upon in my instructions of the 10th of July last.
Having taken the President’s directions, I proceed to consider these interesting and important questions.
First. The facts submitted by you raise a strong presumption that the act of firing the residence of the legation was committed by incendiaries, with a purpose at once political and hostile to the United States, and that the government of Japan could probably have foreseen and prevented it, and that they have, at least, given to it tacit assent and acquiescence.
Secondly. The President is satisfied that your removal of the legation from Yedo to Yokohama was prudent and wise, in view of the circumstances [Page 1149] then existing in Japan, and the proceeding is approved. But it is equally clear that the government of Japan ought to have so controlled those circumstances as to have rendered the removal unnecessary; and that it is bound to provide for your safe return to Yedo, and for the secure and permanent re-establishment of the legation in that capital.
Thirdly. Your proceedings in regard to the controversy which has arisen between the British government and that of Japan appear to have been conciliatory, and to have been equally just and fair towards both parties, without at all compromising any rights of the United States, and they are approved.
Fourthly. It is with much regret that the President has arrived at the conclusion that the government of Japan has failed to keep its faith, solemnly pledged by treaty, with the United States. This regret is rendered the more painful by the reflection that this government has, from its first acquaintance with Japan, conducted all its intercourse with the Tycoon with the utmost sincerity, frankness, and friendship. The United States have constantly conceded, on their own part, and sought to conciliate other powers in their intercourse with Japan. If our advice had been followed the dangers which now threaten the empire would have been averted, and Japan would have been able to profit by a peaceful yet free and equal intercourse with all nations. Even now, although the government of Japan has done so much and suffered so much to be done to alienate and injure the United States, the President is still disposed to persevere in the same liberal and friendly course of proceedings which he has hitherto pursued in regard to Japan. But the friendship of this country cannot be secured by the government and people of Japan, nor would it be of any avail, if the United States should fail to maintain their own dignity and self-respect in their intercourse with Japan with the same firmness which they practice in regard to all other nations.
1. You will, therefore, demand of the government of the Tycoon prompt payment of a sum sufficient to indemnify all the losses which were sustained by yourself and other members of the legation on the occasion of the firing of your official residence.
2. You will demand that diligent efforts be made to discover the incendiaries and bring them to condign punishment.
3. You will demand proper and adequate guarantees for your safe return to Yedo, and the permanent re-establishment of the legation there without delay.
4. You will insist on the full observance of the treaties between the United States and Japan in all the particulars which have not been heretofore waived or postponed by this government.
5. You will demand a reasonable indemnity, to be fixed by yourself, for the injuries which have been sustained by any American citizens from any acts of violence committed against them by Japanese subjects. And you will further demand that diligent efforts be made by the Tycoon’s government to bring the aggressors to justice, and to inflict upon them such punishment as will be calculated to prevent further outrages of the same kind.
You will employ the naval force at your command to protect yourself, the legation, and others of our countrymen, under any circumstances which may occur; and you will inform the government of the Tycoon that the United States will, as they shall find occasion, send additional forces to maintain the foregoing demands.
So far as you may have occasion to counsel or act in relation to the controversy which is pending between Great Britain and Japan, you will be guided by the letter and spirit of previous instructions from this department.
[Page 1150]You will send to me authenticated and verified accounts of the losses which have been sustained by yourself and other members of the legation by the burning of your residence in Yedo, to the end that an application may be made to Congress for an adequate appropriation for the proper indemnity.
It is hardly necessary to say that you will, so far as is possible, execute these instructions in no spirit of resentment, or even of anger; but, on the contrary, while exhibiting the necessary firmness, you will make it manifest to the Tycoon’s government that the novel and perilous circumstances which attend its situation are fully understood and appreciated by the President; and that he desires, with the utmost sincerity and friendship, to favor the interests of internal peace in Japan, and of peace between that country and the several powers of Europe and America.
I am, &c.,
Robert H. Pruyn, Esq., &c., &c., Yokohama.