Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward
No. 25.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Osacca,
May 18, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, No.
1, copy of a letter from the Gorogio, and No. 2, copy of my reply.
The subject-matter is an application for an extension of the payment of
the balance of the Simonoseki indemnity for a definite period of two
years.
In this connection I beg to state, as the Japanese government have
carried out their engagements relative to the opening of the two ports
and two cities named in our treaty in so liberal a manner so as not only
to satisfy my colleagues and myself for the present, but also to inspire
me with perfect confidence for the future, that in view of the terms of
the convention of the 22d October, 1864, to the effect that “the object
of the treaty powers was not the receipt of money, but the establishment
of better relations with Japan,” I do not hesitate to recommend their
application to your favorable consideration.
I trust, therefore, that you will be pleased to authorize me to grant
their application, more or less conditionally, according to
circumstances, as they shall hereafter present themselves, and in
concert with my colleagues, the representatives of the powers
interested.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
We have received your letter in relation to the balance of the
Simoneseki indemnity, which, in accordance with agreement, was
expected to be paid on or from the 15th May, 1867.
[Page 38]
This matter was referred to the Treasury Department for settlement,
and the delay in replying to your letter was caused by our being
obliged to wait for the report of that department, which is to the
effect that appropriations of large sums of money had to be made,
and that it is very difficult to close that account at present. It
is further stated to us that the efforts of our government to
strengthen the friendly relations with foreign powers to some extent
increased the difficulty of procuring the money required.
In view of these circumstances we are, to our great regret, unable to
close that account within a brief period, and yet we do not hesitate
to invite your kind aid when communicating the present despatch to
your government, in consideration of the many proofs we have given,
notwithstanding the numerous difficulties by which we are
surrounded, of a proper and faithful execution of the treaty, in
procuring for us the postponement for a fixed period of the payment
of the balance of that indemnity.
Within one year we expect to be able to pay that balance, yet, in
order to guard against disappointments, and to render any further
application for an extension unnecessary under any circumstances, we
request that such extension for the payment aforesaid be granted to
us for two years from this date, it being understood, as a matter of
course, that we do not object to pay interest on that money if
desired.
With respect and esteem,
ITAKURA EGA NO KAMI.
IWABA MINO NO KAMI.
OGASAWARA IKINO KAMI.
His Excellency R. B. Van Valkenburgh,
Minister Resident of the United States of
America.
Mr. Van Valkenburgh to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs
No. 44.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Osacca,
May 18, 1867.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
15th instant, in which you apply for an extension of the payment of
the balance of the Simonoseki indemnity for a fixed period of two
years, and in reply to say that it will give me pleasure to submit
translation of that letter to my government by the first
opportunity.
With respect and esteem,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States in Japan.
Their Excellencies the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs,
&c., &c., &c., Osacca.
