Mr. Portman to Mr. Seward
No. 52.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
September 13, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a
copy of a correspondence on the subject of alleged interference in the
purchase by American merchants of silk-worm eggs and cocoons at
Kanagawa, and to inform you that all restrictions have been removed.
[Page 260]
Enclosure No. 1, Mr. Fisher to Mr. Portman, August 14.
Enclosure No. 2, Mr. Portman to the Gorogio, August 15.
Enclosure No. 3, Mr. Fisher to Mr. Portman, September 4.
Enclosure No. 4, the Gorogio to Mr. Portman, September 7.
Enclosure No. 5, Mr. Portman to Mr. Fisher, September 7.
Enclosure No. 6, Mr. Portman to Mr. Fisher, September 9.
Enclosure No. 7, Mr. Fisher to Mr. Portman, September 11.
For several years the silk crops of France, Italy, and other silk-raising
countries decreased, owing to a more or less alarming disease among the
silk-worms. Renewal of the species thus became of the greatest
importance; seed from China and Bengal failed, but the Japanese ova
succeeded beyond expectation; and until such seed shall become
acclimated in those countries they will be chiefly dependent upon Japan
for a yearly supply of the same.
It would appear that the interference only complained of at Kanagawa, and
not at the other open ports, was caused by the unauthorized action of
the local authorities. Three American firms are alleged to have
sustained losses in consequence of this interference, and their
complaints are now being examined by Mr. Consul Fisher, in conjunction
with the present governor of Kanagawa, whose predecessor was
removed.
Should they have undoubted claims, I trust they will be of easy
settlement at that port. I beg to assure you, however, that in no case
shall I make any demands upon the Japanese government unless expressly
authorized to do so.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad
interim in Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
No. 1.
Mr. Fisher to Mr. Portman
Consulate of the United States
of America,
Kanagawa, Japan,
August 14, 1865.
Sir: Serious complaints are made to me by
the American houses of Messrs. Allmand & Co., and Messrs. Walsh,
Hall & Co., of direct and indirect interferences in their trade,
and thereby of positive daily violations made by the Japanese of
article three of the treaty made with the United States, July 29,
1858, in regard to their freely buying silk-worm eggs and cocoons
from the Japanese merchants who have them to sell, by the Japanese
custom-house officials of this port, in that they only suffer
certain named Japanese merchants to sell these important staples by
their payment of a certain bonus or leignorase to other specially-licensed merchants of this
port.
It is said this way of doing business has been ordered by the
Gorogio, or government at Yedo, and I will be greatly obliged to you
for the earliest possible denial of such interference, and for such
information as you may be able to procure as to what, if any,
instructions have been given to the custom-house officials of this
port in regard to Japanese merchants selling silk-worm eggs and
cocoons freely, and whether the government deliberately and openly
intends its subjects, officials, or otherwise, to violate and set at
naught our treaty-rights, and thus embarrass and restrict the lawful
rights of our merchants, trade, and commerce at this port.
Your early attention and answer will greatly oblige our mercantile
interests here, and enable me to communicate with them more
intelligibly what steps are best to be taken in view of the damages
they are now daily suffering in consequence of this official
interference so justly complained of.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
GEOKGE S. FISHER, United States
Consul.
A. L. C. Portman, Esq., Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Yedo.
[Page 261]
No. 2.
Mr. Portman to the Gorogio
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
August 15, 1865.
I have the honor to inform your excellency that I received this day a
letter from the American consul at Kanagawa, containing serious
complaints of interference in the purchase of silk-worm eggs and
cocoons by American merchants at that place, in daily violation of
article 3 of the treaty, and to request you to desire the governor
of Kanagawa, with such officers who are well acquainted with the
matter, to visit me at the earliest moment, for the purpose of
examining those complaints in view of their prompt removal.
With respect and esteem,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad
interim of the United States in
Japan.
His Excellency Midluno Idlumi No Kami,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, &c., &c,
&c, Yedo.
No. 3.
Mr. Fisher to Mr. Portman
Consulate of the United States
of America,
Kanawaga, Japan,
September 4, 1865.
Sir: As the season is rapidly advancing,
and will soon draw to a close for the business of silk-worm eggs for
this year, you will excuse me for recalling your attention to my No.
250, (enclosure No. 1,) of the 14th ultimo, in relation to the
interference of custom-house officials in the purchase and sale of
silk-worm eggs at this port, and request, if possible, that you will
give me information in the course of this week as to what
information you have obtained in relation thereto from the
government at Yedo, that I may, without further delay, conclude what
steps had best be taken in regard to the interests of American
merchants and traders in that relation.
I have further to advise you that the American house of Messrs.
Schultze, Reis & Co., of this port, have made the same complaint
to me in regard to interferences and necessity for custom-house
permits as Messrs. Walsh, Hall & Co. and Messrs. Allmand &
Co.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
GEORGE S. FISHER, United States
Consul.
A. L. C. Portman, Chargé d’Affaires ad
interim in Japan.
No. 4.
The Gorogio to Mr. Portman
As it has been represented that foreigners meet with inconvenience in
purchasing silkworm eggs from our merchants, I have again instructed
the governor of Kanagawa to allow this article to be as freely sold
as any other article of commerce.
Stated for your information, in reply, with respect and esteem.
The 16th day of the 7th month of the year
of Ke-U, (7th September, 1865.)
MIDLUNO IDLUMI NO KAMI.
A. L. C. Portman, Esq., Chargé d’ Affaires of the United States of
America, &c., &c., &c.
No. 5.
Mr. Portman to Mr. Fisher
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
September 7, 1865.
Sir: On the receipt of your letter No. 250,
(enclosure No. 1,) of the 14th ultimo, I at once addressed the
Gorogio on the subject, and, after several interviews with governors
for foreign affairs, I was informed in reply that instructions had
again been issued to the governor of Kanagawa to the effect that the
trade in silk-worm eggs and cocoons should be as free as the trade
in any other article.
[Page 262]
Presuming that all cause of complaint for the future has thus been
removed, it remains to ascertain the losses sustained by our
merchants from this alleged interference in the purchase of
silk-worm eggs, and I now have the honor to request you to transmit
to me all such bona tide claims, in order
that they may be presented to this government for examination
without delay.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad
interim in Japan.
George S. Fisher, Esq., United States Consul, Kanagawa.
No. 6.
Mr. Portman to Mr. Fisher
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
September 9, 1865.
Sir: In amendment of the desire expressed
in my letter to you, No 90, (enclosure No. 5,) of the 7th instant, I
now have the honor to request you to present the complaints of the
American merchants for interference in the purchase by them of
silk-worm eggs for examination to the present governor of Kanagawa,
who, in conjunction with a governor for foreign affairs, if
necessary, has been authorized to examine the same. In compliance
with the suggestion made, it has been deemed necessary that an
investigation of the said complaints at your port, where witnesses,
if required, may be examined, would lead more promptly to the result
desired.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad
interim in Japan.
No. 7.
Mr. Fisher to Mr. Portman
Consulate of the United States
of America,
Kanagawa, Japan,
September 11, 1865.
Sir: Your communications Nos. 90 and 92, of
the 7th and 9th instant, have been received, and will have my
attention with the governor of Kanagawa, &c., as suggested, and
I concur in opinion that this is the better plan than to refer these
claims to Yedo in the first instance.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
GEORGE S. FISHES, United States
Cansul.
A. L. C. Portman, Esq., Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Yedo.
