Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward

No. 44.]

Sir: On my recent arrival at Nagasaki, in the Shenandoah, returning from the west coast, I heard a rumor that a large number of native Christians of the Roman Catholic faith had recently been arrested, tortured, and imprisoned, under an old law of Japan, for the exercise of Christian belief. I at once wrote a note to Right Reverend Bishop Petitjean, the Roman Catholic bishop of Japan, who resides in Nagasaki, asking for such information as might be in his possession. The next day, 27th July, he called upon me and kindly gave me the following facts :

In Japan there are now, as nearly as can be estimated, 20,000 native Roman Catholics, descendants from the Christians formerly resident in this country. These are scattered, more or less, all over the empire. There are, comparatively, no new converts. The largest portion of these Christians reside in the island of Kiusiu, and Nagasaki is the central point at which there is a French bishop and several French priests. Whenever it has been possible, these Christians have kept up their forms of worship in secret, and their religious fires have been constantly alive since the last massacre at Pappenburg. Near Nagasaki there are many of these Christians, and the priests frequently meet among them, preaching and administering their sacraments in the night. The government must have had notice of these meetings for a long time, but took no measures about them until the Bonzes, or priests of the Buddhist and Sintoo temples, complained bitterly that their revenues from burials, &c., were rapidly falling off. About the middle of July, these complaints having become so numerous, the governor, in the night time, caused the arrest of 63 men, women, and children, in the little valley of Owri Kami, situated about four miles from Nagasaki. They were confined in small prisons erected for the purpose. It was not known what, if any, torture had been inflicted, or what was to be the punishment.

Deeming it my duty, I at once asked an audience with the two governors of Nagasaki, and, on the 29th of July, they visited me pursuant to my request. I expressed to them my regret at the occurrence, and endeavored to induce them to release the poor prisoners. They declined, having arrested them as criminals under the laws of Japan, upon complaint and proof, unless by direction from the government. They assured me, however, that they had not been tortured, and promised that the wants of those confined, as well as of their families, should be provided for, and that no future arrests should be made until directions were received from the Gorogio.

Subsequently, I learned that two more arrests had been made. I at once asked another interview with the governors, and on the 8th of August they again visited me. They then informed me the two subsequent arrests were not by their order, and that the charge against the persons arrested was not that of being Christians. They renewed their promises of kind treatment made at the former interview.

On my return to this city, and on the 20th instant, I had an interview with one of the governors of foreign affairs upon the subject, and addressed a communication to the Gorogio, a copy of which I forward in this.

To this I have received, as yet, no answer, but am informed, unofficially, that orders have been forwarded to Nagasaki for the release of the prisoners.

Enclosed (No. 2) I send memoranda of my conversations with Noshe Osumi No Kami and Tokuraga Iwami No Kami, the two governors of Nagasaki.

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I trust that my action in this matter will meet withthe approval of the President and of the department.

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.

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to the ministers of foreign affairs,

No. 72.]

It is the express desire of my government that I shall in no manner interfere with the internal regulations of Japan, and that I shall carefully guard against even suspicion of doing so; yet I cannot fail to state to your excellencies that the President will learn with regret the recent action of the governor of Nagasaki in causing the arrest of native Christians at that port for no crime or misdemeanor, other than the profession of their faith and on the plea of their infringement of an ancient law which, if these people were at all aware of its existence, is, at all events, now obsolete and in entire disaccord with the enlightened policy inaugurated by his present Majesty the Tycoon.

The absolute religious freedom of which the United States has set the example to the world and the entire independence of all religious belief from the interference and control of government, have in a great measure contributed to the unexampled prosperity and power at which my country has arrived. Intolerance in regard to religious matters would at this moment be regarded in a very serious light by the Christian world, and perhaps be followed to a greater or less extent by the withdrawal of the sympathy of the great western powers, of which the government of the Tycoon stands so much in need.

My remonstrances with the governor of Nagasaki have no doubt had for result what instructions for the release of the native Christians have ere this been issued.

The governor of Nagasaki acted in this unfortunate matter on his own responsibility, and while I now call your excellencies’ attention to the danger to which an ill-considered act of an agent, with only very limited authority, may lead, I have the honor to request your excellencies to inform me officially that these native Christians have been released; that their property has been restored to them, and that an absolute forgetfulness of the past may he considered as a guarantee againt similar ill-advised acts for the future.

With respect and esteem,

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

Their Excellencies the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, &c.,&c., &c., Yedo.

Minutes of an interview had this day with Noshe Osumi No Kami and Tokuraga Iwami No Kami, governors of Nagasaki.

Minister. Am sorry to learn that, by the governor’s orders, a number of native Christians have been arrested and imprisoned.

Governor. Am deeply sorry for this matter. These people have announced publicly that they are Christians. I am obliged by laws to arrest them, though sorry to do so.

Minister. I had hoped that the Japanese had become more enlightened in regard to these matters. In all countries, especially in America, we can worship God as we choose.

Governor. According to Japanese law, for a long time past, foreign religion is prohibited. When that law is repealed we will not arrest any one because of his religion.

Minister. I have a copy of that law translated from the Japanese, and will do all I can to have the Gorogio repeal it. The whole world will be astonished to hear that the governor has arrested these people because they do not use the same form of worship with himself. I understand the governor must carry out the law, but hope he will treat these prisoners well until they can be released by the proper tribunal.

Governor. Have taken care that these prisoners are treated properly, better than ordinary ones. Have written to the Gorogio about these matters, but not yet received an answer. About 63 have been arrested. Impossible for me to release them without instructions from the Gorogio. Had no instructions from the Gorogio to arrest them.

Minister. Am sorry it has happened; it will injure Japan in the eyes of all nations, and at the time when the Tycoon wants their sympathy and support.

Governor. The number of Christians in Japan is daily increasing, and we fear it will lead to internal troubles.

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Minister. Governor should not meddle with religion. That is the only true way to avoid trouble.

2d Governor. Have just left the capital. Tycoon’s mind is quite different from what it was formerly. Laws have been changed greatly. Think this law will be changed also, but the Tycoon has not yet had time.

Minister. I speak as a friend of the Tycoon and of Japan. Believe the Tycoon to be a true, earnest, and most intelligent man. My government will greatly regret this occurrence, and I hope the law will soon be repealed. Does the governor allow any one to visit these prisoners, and will he allow me ?

Governor. Common people are prohibited from seeing them; only the officers in charge can see them. Japanese high officials do not like to see prisoners unless in court. You are of higher rank than myself and would not like you to see them; but if you wish to go, will accompany you.

Minister. Have these prisoners been beaten or tortured, and have they plenty to eat ?

Governor. They have not been beaten or tortured, and they have plenty to eat. Will not arrest any more before I get the Tycoon’s opinion. Their families are well taken care of, an officer having been appointed for that purpose. A great many complaints have been made relative to the increase of Christianity in Japan, obliged to arrest these people according to law; it is my duty. Will submit the matter to the opinion of the Tycoon and must abide by his decision.

Memoranda of interview held August 8, 1867, with the governors of Nagasaki.

Minister. Sorry to hear that since last interview more Christians have been arrested.

Governor. They were not arrested by my order nor because they were Christians, but by an officer because they disobeyed an order of this government. They were not put in prison.

Minister. How many were there of them ?

Governor. Two, only.

Minister. Are they women ?

Governor. Yes.

Minister. They disobeyed some order of the government ?

Governor. They are confined for that.

Minister. Not because they are Christians, but because they disobeyed an order ?

Governor. Yes.

Minister. How many Christians are confined and in prison ?

2d Governor. They were arrested during my absence. Do you wish to speak to the Gorogio about it ?

Minister. Yes.

2d Governor. Sixty-five. Have spoken to the Gorogio, at Miako. Cannot release them on my own responsibility.

Minister. I understand. I want all the information that I may be able to lay the matter before the Gorogio. Have any Christians been arrested in any other part of this island ?

Governor. Do not know. Of what country are they; what Daimio’s province ?

Minister. I do not know. Have heard that some of them have been arrested.

Governor. I have heard nothing of it.

Minister. Have any Christians died since their confinement ?

Governor. No, not as yet.