Mr. Pruyn to Mr.
Seward
No. 10.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Kanagawa,
January 22, 1864.
Sir: I regret to have to inform you that the
Japanese government has declined to pay the indemnities I have been
instructed to demand. I enclose, No. 1, a copy of translation of the
letter of the minister, which, you see, does not attempt to deny or even
explain the facts set forth in my letter, which, I think, fully
establish the liability of the Japanese government.
The chief object in the proposed transfer of the negotiations to
Washington is probably to gain time, as the embassy is first to visit
all the treaty powers in Europe. It may be hoped, likewise, that if it
finally yields to these claims, the Japanese government may secure the
coveted closing of this port.
I enclose, No. 2, a copy of my reply. I do not yet despair of an amicable
[Page 476] and satisfactory
settlement, though I am without a national vessel, and nothing has been
accomplished here as yet by any nation in the absence of force, or the
prospect of its immediate presence.
Additional proof of this will soon be given. Baron de Rehfus has been
here since the month of September, vainly urging the exchange of
ratifications of the Prussian treaty. He has now gone to Yedo, and has
landed a large guard of marines and sailors from the corvette Gazelle,
and announced his determination to remain in that city till the exchange
of ratifications shall have been effected, and I have no doubt he will
now succeed.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident in
Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.
[Translation.]
The Gorogio to Mr. Pruyn
We received your letter No. 136, dated the 21st December, and
understood all that you stated therein. In the first place, in
regard to what has been said about the fire at Dzenfkujee, it has
been not only stated to your excellency on that occasion in writing,
but the circumstances have also been fully and clearly explained by
governors for foreign affairs, under our instructions; hence, you
must have understood them well; we therefore thought that you would
clearly explain this to your government, and would have received
instructions accordingly. Your communication surprised us
greatly.
The treaty of peace and amity having been concluded, good faith must
be mutually shown as a matter of course; but your suspicion that the
fire was caused by secret instigation of criminals would be an
extraordinary indignity for our government. If our government,
because the public feeling in our country is mostly unsettled,
desired, in the conciliation of that public feeling, to put an end
to the intercourse with foreign powers, there would be a different
action; if such were the case, the engagement entered into of peace
and amity would go for naught, and all the care we have hitherto
taken would have been in vain; wherefore, we are in great anxiety.
That, without taking this into consideration, you should have made
us the said communication, is very disagreeable to us.
If now we were to give the money for indemnity, according to your
demand, it would then be taken for granted that your suspicion was
correct and founded on reality. There could be no greater disgrace
for our government than to do this; it is, therefore, absolutely
impossible to comply with your demand, however much you might, urge
us. If, however, owing to the strict orders which you received from
your government, you should not be able to settle this on your own
responsibility, we will then, through our embassy about to be sent
to your country, fully confer with your government on the subject.
As regards the temple as the temporary residence of the minister at
Yedo, we have already given orders to the proper persons, wherefore
the building of it will be proceeded with.
And as regards the Yokohama matter, we instructed the governor of
Kanagawa to investigate the real circumstances thereof, wherefore we
will shortly give your excellency a definite answer when it is
entirely arranged; but on the occasion of the excitement among the
residents of Yokohama last summer, many mistakes among them,
originating in trifling causes, occurred, and unlawful acts were
probably not committed by the Japanese only, and the [Page 477] forcible urging, by Japanese, of their
claim on your countryman, must have been caused by his improper
refusal of the same. In regard to the matter, however, we shall,
after full examination, address ourselves, in further reply, to your
excellency.
In conclusion, upon the matter of the resident of the Ogasawara Sima,
(Bonin islands,) we already had a correspondence, but the real
circumstances of the case have not yet become perfectly evident; we
propose, therefore, through the proper person, fully to confer with
your excellency on that subject.
We regret that we cannot comply with your demand as stated in the
said letter; but as we find ourselves compelled, for the reason
already given, to state the foregoing to your excellency, it is
desirable that you will not take it in evil part.
As your letter on the occasion of the destruction, by fire of the
castle was destroyed, and there have been many things to attend to,
we fear that the expiration of the time proposed has been caused
thereby, which we have to state, in preliminary reply, to your
letter.
With respect and esteem.
The
10th day of the 12th month of the 3d year of Bunkiu, (18th
January, 1864.)
MIDSUMO IDSUMI-NO-KAMI.
ITAKURA SUWO-NO-KAMI.
INOWUYE KAWATSI-NO-KAMI.
ARIMA TOTOMI-NO-KAMI.
His Excellency Robert H. Pruyn, Minister Resident of the United States of
America, &c., &c., &c.
