Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward
No. 57.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
November 20, 1866.
Sir: In my despatch No. 54, under date of the
5th instant, I informed you that in an interview I had on the 27th
ultimo with two of the governors of foreign affairs, I had urged upon
them “the importance of permitting their people to purchase of the
foreign merchants rice and provisions, and to sanction it by
proclamation.” Previous to that time I had held a consultation with Sir
Harry S. Parkes, her Britannic Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary, upon the same subject, and in pursuance of our
arrangement on the 12th instant I addressed to the Gorogio a
communication, a copy of which is enclosed, (No. 1,) marked number
one.
On the 18th instant I received from the Gorogio a communication, together
with a copy of a proclamation issued by them, pursuant to our request, a
translation of said communication, and copy I enclose, marked No. 2. The
government itself is now engaged in purchasing and importing a quantity
of rice for the poorer people, and I have no doubt their wants will soon
be supplied.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Enclosure No. 1.—Translation.]
Mr. Van Valkenburgh to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
November 12,1866.
Their Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign
Affairs,
&c., &c., &c., Yedo:
My knowledge of the suffering of your people for food, occasioned by
the great advance in the price of rice, and of the desire your
excellencies have for diminishing such distress, evinced by the
establishment of buildings and the furnishing of food to them,
induces me to address you this note.
Foreign merchants, I am told, would be very glad to import into your
empire foreign rice, nearly, if not quite as good as that raised
upon your own soil, had they the assurance that your people would be
permitted to purchase of them without hindrance.
I am also told that such foreign rice could be sold in this market at
a much less price per picul than your own rice now brings.
I desire, therefore, to call the attention of your excellencies to
the great importance of at once issuing a proclamation to the people
of Japan, assuring them that they are at liberty to purchase of
foreign merchants, and I have no doubt that an abundant supply will
soon be in market.
With respect and esteem,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States in Japan.
[Page 17]
[Enclosure No. 2.—Translation.]
Ministers of Foreign Affairs to
Mr. Van Valkenburgh
His Excellency R. B. Van Valkenburgh,
Minister Resident of the United States of America
:
We received your excellency’s letter of the 12th of November, and
tender you our thanks for the friendly feeling that prompted you to
suggest a project for the relief of the poorer classes in our
empire, who, owing to the advanced price of rice, are subject to
much misery. With regard to the importation of rice from foreign
countries, as proposed in that letter, a proclamation has been
issued of which we now hand you a copy.
Which we have to state in reply, with respect and esteem,
INOWEYE KAWATSI NO KAMI.
MATSUDAIRA SURVO NO KAMI.
MATSUDAIRA NUI NO KAMI.
The
11th day of the 10th month of the 2d year of Reill, (17th of
November, 1866.)
Proclamation.
Having learned that the season’s crop of rice is unfavorable in
various localities, our government, in view of the suffering the
advanced price of that staple entails upon the humbler classes,
intend to purchase supplies of the same in foreign countries.
For the general benefit, therefore, rice may be purchased in foreign
countries and sold in Japan, and Japanese are free to procure
supplies from foreign merchants.
