Mr. Pruyn to Mr.
Seward
No. 65.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Kanagawa,
October 29, 1864.
Sir: I have now the honor to enclose No. 1, a
copy of the convention concluded with the Japanese government, which had
been verbally agreed upon when I sent my telegram No. 63, via San Francisco.
I am unable to say that I regard it with unmixed satisfaction.
The important admission with which it opens, that “the hostile acts of
Mori Daizen, Prince of Nagato and Suwo, were assuming such formidable
proportions as to make it difficult for the Tycoon faithfully to observe
the treaties,” may justly be interpreted as a deliberate approval of the
measures adopted by the representatives of the treaty powers, as well as
an admission that their result relieved the Tycoon from the dread
inspired by the boldness and success of his daring vassal.
This recital is only a more solemn affirmation of the Tycoon’s increasing
weakness and danger, which were fully admitted in conferences with his
confidential agents; but it is, nevertheless, of great importance as not
made in secret, but published openly to the world. It must be regarded
as not only justifying all that has been done, but as demonstrating that
it would have been unwise to have even delayed action, much less
refrained from it altogether, unless we were prepared to give up the
rights acquired by treaties.
[Page 582]
The declaration embodied in it “that the receipt of money has never been
the object of the treaty powers, but the establishment of better
relations with Japan, and the desire to place them on a more
satisfactory and mutually advantageous footing is still the leading
object in view,” met my most hearty approval. It is highly honorable to
the treaty powers, and will, in my judgment, if acted on, greatly
promote their interests. It would be a great misfortune should the
opinion prevail that money alone can atone for injuries.
I am, moreover, fully satisfied that whatever is paid by the Japanese
government for indemnities or expenses to foreign governments will, in
some form or other, be assessed on their commerce.
The panic which in May, 1863, grew out of the measures of coercion
threatened when payment of the sum demanded by the British government
was refused, led to exorbitant charges for wages of coolies, hire of
cargo boats, &c., &c. When finally paid, those charges were
somewhat moderated, but are still far above their original standard; and
a perpetual tax imposed on foreign commerce is now in process of
collection, which, added to the losses sustained by the re-exportation
of goods at that time, and on which duties had been paid, are estimated
by intelligent merchants to already exceed the large sum imposed as a
fine on this government.
The British minister and myself, prior to meeting the Japanese
commissioners, had agreed on two millions of dollars as the sum to be
paid, and would have had no difficulty in its division among the powers
interested. But some difference was suggested as likely to arise from
the considerations whether the moral support afforded was not entitled
to weight in such adjustment, and I did not feel that it was incumbent
on me to interpose any objection to this view, as the moral support
afforded by the United States was considerably in excess of the material
support I was enabled to give. I therefore readily agreed to the
reference of this delicate question to the home governments, with the
understanding that a memorandum which I prepared should be signed and
accompany the convention, so as to provide an equitable basis, if any
should become desirable or necessary by reason of payment of the
indemnity being demanded by them. I assented the more readily to the
proposition of the envoy of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the
French to fix the amount at three millions of dollars, because I thought
it more likely to lead to the substitution of a port as a material
compensation for the expenses of the expedition.
Should the Tycoon be averse to the opening of another port, and fail to
make such offer in lieu of the payment of indemnities and expenses, the
amount agreed on will not be regarded as unreasonable. But should he
make the offer, it will be at the option of the four powers to accept it
in full or in part payment, and in that event a moderate pecuniary fine
may be imposed.
In either case provision will be made for a reasonable indemnity for
injuries sustained by the Wyoming and Monitor, and for the insult to our
flag offered by the attack on those vessels, as well as on the Pembroke,
the owners of which have received from the Japanese government a sum
which covers their loss as estimated by themselves.
I have the honor further to enclose—
No. 2. Copy memorandum October 22, 1864.
No. 3. Return of forces by Captain Price.
No. 4. British returns of forces.
No. 5. French returns of forces.
No. 6. Dutch returns of forces.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident in
Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.
[Page 583]
[Enclosure No. 1.]
Convention.
The representatives of the United States of America. Great Britain,
France, and the Netherlands, in view of the hostile acts of Mori
Daizen, Prince of Nagato and Suwo, which were assuming such
formidable proportions as to make it difficult for the Tycoon
faithfully to observe the treaties, having been obliged to send
their combined forces to the straits of Simonoseki in order to
destroy the batteries erected by that Daimio for the destruction of
foreign vessels and the stoppage of trade, and the government of the
Tycoon, on whom devolved the duty of chastising this rebellious
prince, being held responsible for any damage resulting to the
interests of treaty powers, as well as the expenses occasioned by
the expedition:
The undersigned representatives of treaty powers, and Sakai
Hida-no-kami, a member of the second council, invested with
plenipotentiary powers by the Tycoon of Japan, animated with a
desire to put an end to all reclamations concerning the acts of
aggression and hostility committed by the said Mori Daizen since the
first of these acts, in June, 1863, against the flags of divers
treaty powers, and at the same time to regulate definitively the
question of indemnities of war, of whatever kind, in respect to the
allied expedition to Simonoseki, have agreed and determined upon the
four articles following:
1. The amount payable to the four powers is fixed at three millions
of dollars, ($3,000,000.) This sum to include all claims of whatever
nature for past aggressions on the part of Nagato, whether
indemnities, ransom for Simonoseki, or expenses entailed by the
operations of the allied squadrons.
2. The whole sum to be payable quarterly, in instalments of
one-sixth, or half a million dollars, ($500,000,) to begin from the
date when the representatives of said powers shall make known to the
Tycoon’s government the ratification of the convention and the
instructions of their respective governments.
3. Inasmuch as the receipt of money has never been the object of the
said powers, but the establishment of better relations with Japan,
and the desire to place these on a more satisfactory and mutually
advantageous footing is still the leading object in view, therefore,
if his Majesty the Tycoon wishes to offer, in lieu of the payment of
the sum claimed, and as a material compensation for loss and injury
sustained, the opening of Simonoseki or some other eligible port in
the Inland sea, it shall be at the option of the said foreign
governments to accept the same, or insist on the payment of the
indemnity in money, under the condition above stipulated.
4. This convention to be formally ratified by the Tycoon’s government
within fifteen days from the date thereof.
In token of which, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed and
sealed this convention in quintuplicate, with English, Dutch, and
Japanese versions, whereof the English shall be considered the
original.
Done at Yokohama, this 22d day of October, 1864, corresponding to the
22d day of the 9th month of the first year of Genji.
his
SAKAI HIDA-NO-KAMI, +
mark.
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident of
the United States in Japan.
RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, H. B. M. Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Japan.
LEON ROCHES, Minister Plenipotentiare
de I. M. l’Empereur des Français au Japan.
D. DE GRAEFF VAN POLSBROEK, H. N. M.
Consul General and Political Agent in Japan.
[Page 584]
[Enclosure No. 2.]
Memorandum.
The undersigned having, on behalf of their respective
governments, entered into a convention with the government of
his Majesty the Tycoon, providing for the payment by him of a
gross sum of three millions of dollars ($3,000,000) for
indemnities and expenses occasioned by the hostile acts of the
Prince of Nagato, declare that they assumed, as the basis of
such convention, that entered into at Paris with the
commissioners of the Tycoon, (not ratified by the Tycoon because
of other provisions,) in and by which the payment of one hundred
and forty thousand dollars ($140,000) was to be made to the
government of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French for
the attack on the Kienchang; and as such sum, or a larger one,
may be justly claimed, and as the governments of the United
States and of the Netherlands are justly entitled to like
indemnities for more serious attacks on national and merchant
ships of those countries by the same prince, it is reserved for
those governments to decide if any, and what, indemnities from
said gross amount so to be paid by the Japanese government shall
be paid therefor.
In view of the possible acceptance by the said governments of a
port in the Inland sea in lieu thereof, which may render any
division unnecessary, the undersigned reserve the same for
adjustment by their governments, and, to provide an equitable
basis, have hereto annexed memoranda of the naval commanders,
showing the number of ships furnished by each for the expedition
and assigned for the defence of the several ports, with their
armaments and crews; and also of the military commanders,
showing the number of troops collected for the same
purposes.
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident
of the United States.
RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, H. B. M. Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in
Japan.
LEON ROCHES, Minister
Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of the French in
Japan.
D. DE GRAEFF VAN POLSBROEK, Consul
General and Political Agent of the Netherlands in
Japan.
Yokohama, October 22, 1864.
[Enclosure No. 3.]
United States Ship
Jamestown, Yokohama,
October 21,
1864.
Sir: In compliance with your
request, I have the honor to inform you that the naval force
of the United States on the coast of Japan, in the month of
September last, was composed of this ship, with a crew of
two hundred and eighteen (218) persons, all told, and
twenty-one (21) guns; the chartered steamer Ta-kiang, of
forty persons, all told, and three (3) guns. One gun and
eighteen (18) persons were transferred from this ship to the
Ta-kiang, making her full crew fifty-eight, all told, during
the time she was in the service of the United States. The
Jamestown was assigned to the defence of this port, and the
Ta-kiang formed part of the expedition to Simonoseki.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
CICERO PRICE, Captain United
States Navy.
Hon. Robert H. Pruyn, United States Minister Resident, Japan.
[Page 585]
[Enclosure No. 4.]
General return showing the number and description
of her Majesty’s naval forces, royal marines, &c., engaged
in the recent operations in the straits of Simonoseki; also
those at or in transitu between the several ports during the
same period.
| Ships, &c. |
Number of guns. |
Number of men. |
Remarks
showing whether present during the operations at Simonoseki,
or otherwise employed as a portion of the squadron in
Japan. |
| Eurayalus |
35 |
515 |
} |
Engaged in the operations in
the straits of Simonoseki between September 5 and 12,
1864. |
| Tartar |
20 |
275 |
| Conqueror |
40 |
480 |
| Banosa |
21 |
275 |
| Leopard |
18 |
315 |
| Argus |
6 |
175 |
| Perseus |
17 |
175 |
| Conquette |
4 |
90 |
| Bouncer |
3 |
40 |
| Battalion of royal
marines |
|
500 |
| Detachment of royal
engineers |
|
10 |
| Total |
164 |
2,850 |
|
|
| Perlorus |
21 |
275 |
} |
Employed in the protection of
Yokohama. |
| Havre |
3 |
40 |
| Kestrel |
3 |
40 |
| Coromandel |
5 |
55 |
| Race-horse |
4 |
90 |
} |
Conveying despatches and
conveying coal |
| Cormorant |
4 |
90 |
| Osprey |
4 |
90 |
| Scylla |
21 |
275 |
|
Employed in the protection of Nagasaki. |
| Total |
65 |
955 |
|
|
| General
totals |
229 |
3,805 |
|
|
Dated on board the Euryalus, at Yokohama, October 24, 1864.
AUGUSTUS L. KUPER, Vice-Admiral, and
Commander-in-Chief.
True copy:
JOHN MACDONALD.
[Page 586]
Return of troops present at Yokohama
during the operations at Simonoseki.
| Corps. |
Field
officers. |
Captains. |
Subalterns. |
Staff. |
Sergeants. |
Rank
and file. |
Horses. |
Guns. |
Mortars. |
Rocket
tubes. |
| Royal artillery |
|
|
1 |
|
2 |
80 |
21 |
10 |
4 |
1 |
| Royal engineers |
|
|
2 |
|
1 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
| Second battalion 20th
regiment |
2 |
8 |
16 |
6 |
43 |
695 |
3 |
|
|
|
| Detachment 67th regiment |
1 |
1 |
6 |
|
14 |
238 |
1 |
|
|
|
| Detachment 2d Beloochee
regiment |
|
1 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
149 |
2 |
|
|
|
| Mounted escort |
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
16 |
14 |
|
|
|
| Staff |
|
2 |
3 |
|
2 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
|
| Legation guard |
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
23 |
|
|
|
|
| Total |
3 |
13 |
30 |
10 |
74 |
1,221 |
45 |
10 |
4 |
1 |
SUMMARY.
Officers, 56; sergeants and rank and file, 1,295; horses, 45; guns,
10; mortars, 4; rocket tubes, 1.
Ammunition.—200 rounds per gun; 500 rounds per
rifle.
H. R. BROWNE, Lieut. Col., 2d and 20th Regiments,
Comm’g Her Majesty’s Troops in Japan.
True copy:
JOHN MACDONALD, Her Majesty’s
Legation.
[Enclosure No. 5.—Translation.]
NAVAL FORCES IN THE CHINA SEAS.
General return of the French naval forces engaged
in the recent operations at the straits of Simonoseki, and of
those employed during that period as transport or despatch
vessels, or for protection in Japanese waters.
| Names
of ships. |
No.
of guns. |
No.
of men. |
Acting marines. |
|
Remarks. |
| Semiramis |
44 |
580 |
200 |
} |
Present at the action of
Simonoseki from September 5 to 10, 1864. The Cormal sloop,
like the Dupleix, brought marines from Saigon to Shanghai.
The Tancrede brought marines from Shanghai to Simonoseki.
The Kien-Chan acted as despatch vessel. |
| Dupleix |
14 |
200 |
80 |
| Tancrede |
6 |
75 |
20 |
| Total |
64 |
855 |
300 |
|
| Company of marines |
|
|
70 |
Left on shore for the protection of
Yokohama. |
|
64 |
855 |
370 |
|
On board the Semiramis, October 26, 1864.
The Rear-Admiral Commanding in Chief the Nav. Div.
in the China and Japan Seas,
C. JAURES.
A true copy:
DEP. TURENNE.
[Page 587]
[Enclosure No. 6.—Translation. ]
Return of the Netherlands naval
forces engaged in the operations in the straits of Simonoseki in
September last.
| Names
of ships. |
No.
of guns. |
No.
of men. |
How
engaged. |
| Metalen Krais |
16 |
270 |
} |
All engaged in operations at
Simonoseki from September 5 to 12, 1864, inclusive. |
| Amsterdam |
8 |
186 |
| Dyambi |
6 |
255 |
| Medusa |
16 |
240 |
| Total |
56 |
951 |
|
|
On Board His Netherland Majesty’s Steamer
Metalen Kruis, Yokohama, October 26,
1864.
The Captain, Flag-Officer in the Japan
Seas, J. C. DELKAN.
A true copy:
The Clerk at the Netherland Legation in
Japan, H. A. NOORDHOELE-HEGT.
