Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.

No. 53.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith No. 1, copy of a letter from the British minister, informing me that in view of the prior claims of the United States, France, and the Netherlands to compensation for special injuries, Great Britain had received, of the 2d and 3d instalments of the indemnity money received for the four powers named from the Japanese government, a sum of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) in excess of her proper share, and that therefore the senior British commissariat officer at Yokohama had been instructed to pay to me, for the United States, one-third of the amount named, viz: eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11,666 66.)

I transmit herewith No. 2, copy of the letter of the British commissariat officer, and Nos. 3 and 4, copies of my replies to the British minister and the commissariat officer respectively. When the remittance of one-fourth of the 2d and 3d [Page 224] instalments of the indemnity money, namely, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, ($250,000,) was made in May last, the mode of division between the four powers, as adopted in London or Paris, was not known, nor had any instructions on that subject been received at this legation; and the first instalment of the indemnity remitted through the British commissariat was deemed sufficient to meet any balance that might have to be adjusted between the four powers.

I now understand the above account to stand as follows: A prior claim of one hundred and forty thousand dollars ($140,000) each for the United States, France and the Netherland, on the total amount of the indemnity of three millions dollars, ($3,000,000,) having been admitted, it appears to have been agreed that one-sixth of the total prior claim, amount of four hundred and twenty thousand dollars, ($420,000,) namely, seventy thousand dollars, ($70,000,) shall be first in equal shares apportioned between the United States, France and the Netherlands; the balance remaining of each of the six instalments of five hundred thousand dollars, ($500,000,) namely, four hundred and thirty thousand dollars, ($430,000,) to be then equally divided between the four powers, who signed the convention of October 22d, 1864,

In this manner only can I account for the difference of $11,666 66, now stated to be due to the United States. Instructions in accordance with those received by the British minister being no doubt on the way, I did not hesitate to receive the amount of $11,666 66 named, for which I purchased a bill of exchange on London, at the current rate of four shillings seven pence, at six months after sight. I now enclose the third of this bill of exchange, for two thousand six hundred and seventy-three pounds twelve shillings and two pence sterling, (£2,673 12 2,) drawn by the Oriental Bank Corporation at Yokohama on the Union Bank, London, in favor of the honorable Mr. Adams, our minister in London, to whom, in obedience to the instructions contained in your despatch No. 20, of the 14th July last, I transmit the first of this bill by this mail, and the second of the same I shall send to London, similarly addressed, by the next mail, which leaves Yokohama on the 13th proximo.

I also transmit, No. 5, copy of the receipt given by me to the British assistant commissary general, and, No. 6, copy of my letter to Mr. Adams.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Sir H. Parkes to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you of my having been instructed by my government that in receiving, on account of Great Britain, $250,000 as one-fourth share of the second and third instalments of the Simonoseki indemnity, in accordance with the understanding arrived at with Mr. Portman, as United States chargé d’affaires, in conjunction with our colleagues the representatives of France and the Netherlands, we omitted to consider the prior claims of France, the United States, and the Netherlands to compensation for special injuries to the amount of $70,000 on each instalment, which had already been recognized by her Majesty’s government.

Deducting, therefore, the last-mentioned sum from each of the aforesaid instalments, the amount remaining to be divided equally between the four powers was $860,000, instead of one million dollars, and the share to be received by each power (after payment of the special compensations) was $215,000, instead of $250,000.

Great Britain having accordingly received $35,000 in excess of her proper share, the senior commissariat officer in Japan has been instructed by her Majesty’s treasury to adjust this matter by paying the sum of $11,666⅔ to each of the representatives of France, the United States, and the Netherlands, in completion of the amount to which they were respectively entitled.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

HARRY S. PARKES.

General Van Valkenburgh, &c., &c., &c.

[Page 225]

Mr. Murray to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.

Sir: Having received instructions from the lords commissioners of her Majesty’s treasury to pay to the representative of America the sum of eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11,666 66,) being the amount received into the treasury chest here in excess of the proportion due to her Britannic Majesty’s government of the second and third instalments of the Japanese indemnity, I have the honor to request that your excellency may be pleased to inform me when it will suit your convenience to receive this amount. Payment will be made by check on the Oriental Bank Corporation.

I have the honor to be your excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES W. MURRAY, Assistant Commissary General.

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Sir Harry Parkes.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 18th instant, informing me that the senior commissariat officer of her Majesty’s government has been instructed to pay to the representative of the United States the sum of $11,666 66, being the amount received into the treasury chest at Yokohama in excess of the proportion due to her Britannic Majesty’s government of the second and third instalments of the Simonoseki indemnity. I have received a communication from Major Murray, requesting to know when it would be convenient for me to receive the money, and I have notified him that I would receive it soon at Yokohama.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan.

Sir Harry S. Parkes, K. C. B., Her Britannic Majesty’s Enroy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Japan.

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Major Murray.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 18th instant, informing me that you have been instructed to pay to the representative of the United States the sum of eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11,666 66,) being the amount received into the treasury chest at Yokohama in excess of the proportion due to her Majesty’s government of the second and third instalments of the Japanese indemnity. I will call at your office, or send an order, for the check soon.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan.

Major J. W. Murray, Assistant Commissariat General, Yokohama.

[Untitled]

Received from Assistant Commissariat General Murray the sum of eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11.666 66,) equivalent in sterling to £2,479 3s. 4d., being excess of the proportion of second and third instalments of the Simonoseki indemnity received by the British government.

£2,479 3s. 4d.

(Signed in duplicate.)

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan.

Witness: A. L. C. Portman.

[Page 226]

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Adams.

Sir: In obedience to instructions, of which you are no doubt apprised, I have the honor to transmit herewith the first of a bill of exchange for two thousand six hundred and seventy-three pounds twelve shillings and two pence sterling, (£2,673 12s. 2d.,) at six months after sight, drawn in your favor by the Oriental Bank Corporation at Yokohama on the Union Bank, London, representing, at the rate of four shillings seven pence, the amount of eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11,666 66,) Mexican currency, being one-third of thirty-five thousand (35,000) dollars received by her Majesty’s government in excess of their proper share of the second and third instalments of the Simonoseki indemnity. The third of this bill will be sent by this mail to the honorable the Secretary of State, to whom I also send a copy of this letter, and the second of the same I shall send to you by the French mail which leaves Yokohama on the 13th proximo.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident in Japan.

Hon. Charles Francis Adams, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, London.