Mr. Pruyn to Mr.
Seward
No. 16.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Kanagawa,
April 24, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of a
letter received from the minister for foreign affairs, in which it is
announced that his Majesty the Tycoon does not think it expedient to
avail himself of the privilege conferred by the convention of tendering
Simonoseki, or some eligible port in the inland sea, in lieu of the
indemnity which he therein agreed to pay to the four powers. (Enclosure
No. 1.)
A similar communication was at the same time addressed to my colleagues;
but as the representatives of England and Holland had announced to the
Japanese government that their governments preferred that another port
should be opened, and the minister of France had been instructed that
the government of his Imperial Majesty thought it better that the
pecuniary indemnity should be paid, it was not thought we could frame a
reply in which all could unite, I therefore transmitted a letter to the
Gorogio, of which I send copy, (enclosure No. 2.)
As by the terms of the convention it was entirely optional with the
Tycoon to open a port, and as the effect of the decision was to make the
obligation to pay the indemnity absolute, it appeared to me that it was
advisable to offer to receive the first instalment at the time named, as
it was understood that the money was already in the treasury and
appropriated for that purpose. I therefore suggested to her Britannic
Majesty’s chargé d’affaires that it would not be
[Page 247]
inconsistent with his duty, under the letters he
had received declaring the preference of her Britannic Majesty’s
government, to unite in receiving the money provided the Japanese
government paid it, with the understanding that such receipt should not
be understood as committing our governments to the extension of the
times of payment of the remaining instalments. We therefore had a
conference and agreed to make that proposition; whereupon I addressed a
letter to the Gorogio, of which I enclose copy, enclosure No. 3, which
corresponds substantially with the reply sent in by each of my
colleagues.
You will see the government wish an extension of the time of payment of
the second instalment, leaving it only to be inferred, not expressed,
that the remaining instalments will be hereafter paid agreeably to the
terms of the convention. But they make no promise to do so, and it is
more than probable that if this extension be granted similar efforts
will be made to extend the time of payment of the other instalments,
which will prove an embarrassment to trade for several years. I concur
with my colleagues in the opinion that no such extension should be
granted.
I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, &c, &c.,
&c.
[No. 1.—Translation.]
In order to arrange the difficulty caused by the hostile acts of Mori
Daizen against the ships of various powers, an agreement was entered
into by us with the representatives of the treaty powers on the 22d
of the 9th month, (October 22, 1864,) providing that in view of the
mutual interests of the governments interested, it is optional to
open Simonoseki or another port in the inland sea, or to pay a sum
of money as indemnity, as stated in that written instrument.
After having fully taken the present state of things in our country
into due consideration, we have come to the conclusion that the
opening of a new port is not only undesirable, in view of our
internal affairs, but that it would also be attended with
inconvenience for the several powers.
The real cause which involved the friendly intercourse between the
two countries in great difficulties is the action of Mori Daizen;
the money of the indemnity therefore should be demanded of him; but
as one of the Daimios of our country, it is impossible to allow him
to enter into negotiation on the subject with the several powers,
and hence our government was compelled to assume the
responsibility.
If a port be opened instead, the inconvenience of both countries will
increase twofold, and therefore, after mature deliberation, we have
decided to choose the latter alternative, to wit, the payment of the
indemnity.
The Choshu difficulty is still unsettled. Yet one portion of the sum
of indemnity to be paid in six instalments shall be delivered in the
6th month of this year, (August, 1865,) and because this Choshu
difficulty has not yet been disposed of, it is desirable that for
the payment of the balance an extension of one year be granted, and
it is proposed that the second instalment be paid in the 6th month
of next year, and further payment, as provided by convention, from
the last named date.
As you are well acquainted with the state of affairs in our country,
we do not doubt that you will fully comply with our desire.
Stated, with respect and esteem,
the 10th day of
the 3d month of the 2d year of Gengi, (April 5,
1865.)
MIDLUNO IDLUMI NO KAMI.
SUWA INABA NO KAMI.
His Excellency Robert H. Pruyn,
Minister Resident of the United States of
America, &c., &c., &c.
No. 2.
Mr. Pruyn to the Gorogio
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Kanagawa,
April 8, 1865.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellencies’
letter of the 10th day of the 3d month, (5th instant.)
It announces that the government of his Majesty the Tycoon has, after
mature deliberation,
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decided not to tender Simonoseki, or some other eligible port in the
Inland Sea, in lieu of the indemnity, the right of which was
reserved by the late convention.
Your excellencies therefore propose to pay the first instalment of
the indemnity in the 6th month of the year, the second instalment in
the 6th month of next year, and the four remaining instalments at
intervals subsequent to the second payment, as provided by
conyention.
Sufficient time has not elapsed to enable me to receive instructions
on the subject of the convention from my government and to learn its
preferences.
I feel assured, however, it would have cheerfully accepted a new port
in lieu of all or part of the indemnity, had such been the wish of
the Japanese government.
I sincerely hope that the decision which has been made, founded, as
it is, on a more intimate knowledge of the commercial and political
relations of the several parts of the Empire with each other, may be
such as is best calculated to improve the relations with the treaty
powers, and to insure internal peace and tranquillity.
Meanwhile I shall transmit to my government a copy of the letter of
your excellencies. On the arrival of instructions from our
respective governments, the ministers of the four powers will be in
a position to take your excellencies’ letter into full and friendly
consideration, and give such answer as may be in our power, as to
your proposal to extend the payment of the balance of the
indemnity.
With respect and esteem,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident of the
United States in Japan.
Their Excellencies the Ministers Of Foreign
Affairs,
&c., &c, Yedo.
No. 3.
Mr. Prnyn to the Gorogio
Legation Of The United States In
Japan,
Kanagawa,
April 17, 1865.
In continuation of my letter No. 36, in relation to your
excellencies’ announcement, that the government of his Majesty the
Tycoon had resolved to pay the indemnity agreed on by the convention
of October 22, 1864, renouncing the right reserved therein to tender
in lieu thereof an open port, it becomes my duty to inform your
excellencies, that at a recent conference between my colleagues and
myself we arrived at the following conclusions, which harmonize with
those contained in my said letter No. 36, (enclosure No. 2.)
The decision of his Majesty the Tycoon becomes now a part of the
convention, and has the effect to make the obligation to pay the
indemnity absolute.
The representatives of the four powers will therefore be prepared to
receive the first instalment at the time mentioned by your
excellencies, but only on condition that such receipt shall not be
considered as binding their respective governments to the extension
of the time fixed for the payment of the remaining instalments. The
undersigned would be authorized, with his colleagues, to accept the
further instalments as they successively become due under the
convention. The convention having doubtless before this been
ratified by the powers, parties thereto cannot be changed by their
representatives. They must therefore make known your excellencies’
wishes to their respective governments for their decision. It will
be competent if they shall decide, in a friendly spirit, to comply
in whole or in part with the request of his Majesty the Tycoon to
propose such equivalent advantages as may be regarded as necessary
and just.
Animated by the most friendly sentiments, I have transmitted a copy
of your excellencies’ letter to my government, which will, at an
early day after an interchange of views with the governments of
Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands, give instructions to its
representatives, corresponding with the decision at which they shall
arrive.
With respect and esteem,
ROBERT H. PRUYN, Minister Resident of the
United States in Japan.
Their Excellencies the Ministers Of Foreign
Affairs,
&c., &c., Yedo.
