Mr. Portman to Mr. Seward.
No. 23.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yokohama,
May 29, 1866.
Sir: On the 26th instant I received a letter,
of which I herewith transmit copy, (enclosure No. 1,) from the acting
agent of the Oriental Banking Corporation at this place, dated the 16th,
informing me that the third instalment of the
[Page 206]
Simonoseki indemnity, namely, five hundred
thousand dollars, ($500,000,) had been received from the Japanese
government, and was held by him subject to the order of the foreign
representatives.
The promissory note, deposited for that amount by the Japanese
government, as stated in my despatch No. 7, of the 15th February, had
thus been paid. The first instalment of the indemnity was remitted to
London, as reported in my despatches Nos. 13 and 14, of the 11th and
13th April, respectively. The total amount thus held by the Oriental
Bank at this place, for the four powers who signed the convention of the
22d October, 1864, was one million of Mexican dollars, ($1,000,000,)
making the second and third instalments of that indemnity. In view of
such a large amount of money lying idle in the vaults of one single bank
at this place, the representatives of Great Britain, France, and the
Netherlands, in order to avoid unnecessary responsibility, desired the
remittance of that money to our respective governments. Its safety being
a paramount consideration I assented to this proposal, and accordingly
authorized the manager of the Central Bank of Western India to receive
one-fourth part of the amount named—namely, two hundred and fifty
thousand Mexican dollars—from the Oriental Bank, and invest that money
in undoubted sterling bank bills of exchange, payable to your order.
I transmit No. 2, copy of the joint letter addressed to the acting agent
of the Oriental Bank, announcing the division of the whole amount of the
indemnity money held by him.
I also transmit No. 3, copy of my letter to the acting agent of that
bank, authorizing the transfer as above stated; and No. 4, copy of my
letter of instruction to the manager of the Central Bank of Western
India, and No. 5, copy of his reply.
The British deputy assistant commissary general, who received the first
instalment of the indemnity, had no instruction to receive any
additional amounts; and in the absence of instructions for my guidance,
and for the purpose of securing the safe and prompt remittance of the
amount belonging to the United States, I concluded to adopt the course
of action as above stated.
The rate at which this remittance is made, you will perceive, is much
more favorable than the British official rate, at which the remittance
of the first instalment has been made. There is unfortunately stagnation
in business at this place, and the sudden demand for bills for a
comparatively large amount slightly depressed the rate of exchange,
which, I beg to assure you, is the most favorable one for undoubted bank
bills that could be procured at present.
I transmit herewith No. 6, the original account of the manager of the
Central Bank of Western India, together with the seconds of six sets of
bills on London, at six months, for the aggregate amount of fifty-six
thousand seven hundred and seventy pounds sixteen shillings and eight
pence sterling, (£56,770 16s. 8d.,) payable to your order.
The first of these bills will be sent by me by the English mail, which
leaves to-morrow morning, to Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co., London,
the agents of the United States, for acceptance. I enclose No. 7, copy
of my letter to Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co. The thirds of these
bills will be transmitted to you by the next mail, within two weeks from
this date. This large amount of money had either to be kept here or
remitted without delay. I adopted the latter alternative, as best
subserving the interests of the United States, and involving the least
responsibility, if any, and I feel confident, therefore, that you will
be pleased to approve of my action.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Acting Chargé d’ Affaires in
Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Page 207]
No. 1.
Mr. Robertson to Mr. Portman.
Oriental Bank Corporation,
Yokohama,
May 16, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
the sum of five hundred thousand dollars—say five hundred thousand
clean Mexican dollars—is held here by this bank at the disposal of
the representatives of England, France, the Netherlands, and
America, in satisfaction of the third instalment of the indemnity
money now due by the Japanese government.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
J. ROBERTSON, Acting
Agent.
A. L. C. Portman, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
No. 2.
[Untitled]
Sir: With reference to Mr. Rickard’s letter
of the 8th of January last to the address of the representatives of
Great Britain, France, the United States of America, and the
Netherlands, advising us of the receipt from the Japanese government
of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) on account of the
above-mentioned four powers, and with reference, also, to your own
letter of the 16th instant, advising us of the receipt from the
Japanese government of a second sum of the same amount, making in
all a million dollars ($1,000,000) now held by you on account of the
said four powers, we hereby request you to pay to the order of each
of the undersigned one-fourth of the said total sum, or two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, ($250,000.)
We have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble
servants,
HARRY S. PARKES, H. B. M.’s Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in
Japan.
LEON ROCHES, Ministre Plenipotentiare de
S. M. l’Empereur des Français.
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Acting Chargé d’
Affaires of the United States in Japan,
D. DE GRAEF VON POLSBROEK, H. N. M.’s
Political Agent and Consul General in
Japan.
No. 3.
Mr. Portman to Mr. Robertson.
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yokohama,
May 28, 1866.
Sir: With reference to the letter addressed
to you by the representatives of Great Britain, France, the United
States, and the Netherlands, dated the 26th instant, desiring you to
pay to the order of each of them the sum of two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, ($250,000,) being one-fourth of a sum of one
million clean Mexican dollars ($1,000,000) received from the
Japanese government and now held by you on account of the said four
powers, I have the honor to request you to pay into the Central Bank
of Western India at this place, duly authorized by me to receive the
same, the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, ($250,000,)
being the share of the United States
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Acting Chargé d’Affaires
of the United States in Japan.
No. 4.
Mr. Portman to Mr. Morrison.
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yokohama,
May 28, 1866.
Sir: I transmit herewith a letter addressed
by me to J. Robertson, esq., acting agent of the Oriental Banking
Corporation at this place, requesting him to pay into your hands the
sum of two hundred and fifty thousand clean Mexican dollars
($250,000) received from the Japanese government for the United
States and now held by him.
[Page 208]
I have to request you to invest the amount named in your own or other
undoubted bank sterling bills of exchange in the usual manner, drawn
in favor of the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State of the
United States, and, on delivery of these bills of exchange, to
furnish me with an account of the transaction for transmission by me
to Washington.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. L. C. POETMAN, Acting Chargé d’
Affaires of the United States in
Japan.
No. 5.
Mr. Morrison to Mr. Portman.
Central Bank of Western
India,
Yokohama, Japan,
May 29, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, with enclosure for the
manager of the Oriental Bank Corporation, requesting him to hold to
my order the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
($250,000.)
In accordance with the terms of your letter now. under
acknowledgment, I beg to hand you herewith six sets of bills,
aggregating £56,770 16s. 8d. sterling, and
also memorandum of account and particulars of said bills, the
receipt of which please acknowledge.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
For the Central Bank of Western India,
J. MORRISON, Agent in
Yokohama.
A. L. C. Portman, Esq., Acting Chargé d’ Affaires of the United States
in Japan.
No. 7.
Mr. Portman to Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co.
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yokohama,
May 29, 1866.
Gentlemen: I transmit herewith the firsts
of six sets of bills on London at six months, aggregating fifty-six
thousand seven hundred and seventy pounds sixteen shillings eight
pence sterling, (£56,770 16s. 8d.,) payable to the order of the Hon. William
H. Seward, Secretary of State of the United States. These bills, all
of this date, are drawn by the Central Bank of Western India, at
Yokohama, on the London County Bank, London, as follows:
| No. 41, favor of the Hon. William H.
Seward, &c., &c. |
£10,000 |
0 |
0 |
| No. 42, favor of the Hon. William H.
Seward, &c., &c. |
10,000 |
0 |
0 |
| No. 43, favor of the Hon. William H.
Seward, &c., &c. |
10,000 |
0 |
0 |
| No. 44, favor of the Hon. William H.
Seward, &c., &c. |
10,000 |
0 |
0 |
| No. 45, favor of the Hon. William H.
Seward, &c., &c. |
10,000 |
0 |
0 |
| No. 46, favor of the Hon. William H.
Seward, &c., &c. |
6,770 |
16 |
8 |
|
56,770 |
16 |
8 |
Be pleased to cause these bills to be accepted and to advise the
honorable the Secretary of State accordingly.
The seconds of the bills above mentioned, together with a copy of
this letter to yourselves, will be sent by me to Washington via
California by a vessel which sails from this port on the 31st
instant.
I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Acting Chargé d’
Affaires of the United States in
Japan.
