Mr. Portman to Mr. Seward.
No. 28.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
June 1, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith No.
1, translation of a letter from the ministers for foreign affairs,
informing me that Japanese of all classes are [Page 209] now permitted to visit foreign
countries, and of the establishment of a passport system
accordingly.
Another barrier of Japanese isolation has thus been removed.
I transmit No. 2, copy of my acknowledgment of that letter.
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.
No. 1.
[Translation.]
Since the opening of the ports in our empire friendly intercourse has
made steady progress, and some of our people, both officials and
merchants, may now visit the countries of the treaty powers. Having
learned that it is the custom to furnish persons who visit foreign
countries with a permit to that effect, we have adopted that custom,
and all Japanese who may wish to travel abroad shall be furnished
with such a permit accordingly. We shall soon send you a form of
such a permit for your government, to be compared with the permit to
be shown by the Japanese; and being thus identified, we request that
they may be treated with kindness, and also that Japanese not
provided with such permit may not be considered as such.
We request you to make the foregoing known to your government.
With respect and esteem. The 13th day of the
fourth month of the second year of Ke-U, (27th May,
1866.)
MIDSUNO IDSUMI NO KAMI.
MATSUDAIRA SUWO NO KAMI.
A. L. C. Portman, Esq., Chargé d’Affaires of the United
States.
No. 2.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
June 1, 1866.
It is with great pleasure that I now have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your interesting communication of the 13th day of
this fourth month, informing me that you had! concluded to issue
passports to those of the subjects of his Majesty the Tycoon who may
wish to travel in foreign countries. Such a passport, when issued by
your government, being, in fact, a certificate of respectability, I
do not hesitate to give your excellencies the assurance that this
communication will be received by my government with much
satisfaction, and that your countrymen may rely upon receiving all
needful aid and protection in the United. States.
With respect and esteem,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad
interim of the United States in
Japan.
Their Excellencies Midsuno Idsumi No
Kami, and Matsudaira Suwo No Kami,
Ministers for Foreign Affairs, &c.,
&c., &c., Yedo.
