Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
No. 14.]
Legation of the United States,
Hiogo,
March 1, 1868.
Sir: I had the honor, in my No. 13, to inform
you of a rumor that the Tycoon had abdicated, and that the Prince of
Kiusiu had been named as his successor as the head of the Tokugawa
family; that Mr. Roches, the French minister, had returned to this port,
but whether to resume his position or en route to
France, I was not then aware. On yesterday, the 29th of February, the
foreign representatives held a conference, at which he was present. He
announced his determination to resume his functions and delay his
departure, having received, by the last mail which reached Yokohama
during his recent stay there, instructions from his government to remain
until his successor arrived. He held conferences with the Tycoon while
at Yedo, on the 12th and 19th February. The Tycoon in the first
interview declared his intention of submitting to the will of the
Mikado; but at the same time denying his right to invade or deprive him
of his possessions as the head of the Tokugawa family, insisting upon
protecting them to the utmost. At the same time he repeated the history
of this struggle as I have attempted to give it in my previous
dispatches, and alleged that the Mikado was in duress and not acting of
his own free will. On the second interview he informed Mr. Roches that
he had abdicated and that the Prince of Kiusiu, a boy of about seventeen
years of age, was his successor as head of his family; that he, the late
Tycoon, would act for the prince, and be the manager of his affairs;
that it was intended only to protect their patrimonial estates and no
further than that, to carry on the war against the Mikado.
This abdication was promulgated at Yedo on the 19th February, but as yet
we have received no official notice of it. I trust this act, by which
Japan is left without a Tycoon, and with but a single government, that
of the Mikado, will result in peace; but it is difficult to say, there
are so many discordant elements and separate interests, that dissensions
and strifes may yet continue.
I inclose, marked No. 1, copy of Mr. Roches’ letter, announcing his
return, which was received by me late last night.
Yesterday, Date Iyo No Kami, one of the officers charged with the conduct
of foreign affairs, arrived from Kioto and paid me a visit of ceremony.
He arranged for a business conference for to-day, at one o’clock, with
all the foreign representatives, and it is just concluded. He said to us
that the officer ordering the fire upon foreigners on the 4th instant
had been examined and found guilty of a grievous offense, and been
sentenced to death, and that to-morrow had been assigned as the day of
execution. That we should also receive to-morrow the
[Page 680]
apology from the Mikado’s government. We
then arranged to go to Osaka on Thursday, the 5th instant, reopen our
legations for a short time, and return to Yokohama. The Costa Rica mail
closes in a few moments, and I have no further time to write.
From Nagasaki I hear all is quiet. The new governor of that port,
appointed by the Mikado, sails to-morrow for that place. I inclose
copies of two official communications received by me yesterday from the
United States consul there, marked Nos. 2 and 3.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Sir and Dear Colleague: I had the honor to
inform you, by my letter of the ninth February, for what motives I
thought it necessary, without separating the action of France from
the collective action of the foreign representatives, to leave Hiogo
and return to Yokohama.
During the few days that I have passed at Yokohama and at Yedo I have
convinced myself that it was more convenient and in the interests of
my government that I returned to you and communicated to you the
information and impressions I had collected. Acting like this, I had
thought that even my absence might be useful for the general
interests we represent in Japan, and that to the gratification of
giving you this information would be added the one of informing you
personally of the state of things, and of one of the phases of our
present situation, as well as to recommence with you the community
of views and work which has been so happily maintained by the Baron
Brin.
I am happy to approve everything which Baron Brin has done in
conjunction with you, and to thank you for the help you have lent
him during the interview I had charged him with. I have, therefore,
only to felicitate myself for having left and having returned.
I am, sir, and dear colleague, with assurances of my
consideration,
His Excellency General Van Valkenburgh,
Minister Resident of the United States of
America.
[Untitled]
No. 22.]
United States Consulate,
Nagasaki,
February 11, 1868.
Sir: By her Britanic Majesty’s ship
Adventure, which leaves here very shortly for Hiogo, I hasten to
give you some information concerning the situation of affairs at
this port.
Considerable excitement has existed here during the last week, in
consequence of the news received from Osaka of the defeat of the
forces of the Tycoon by those of Satsuma and other princes.
The governor of the port, Kawaza Izu No Kami, finding he had not a
sufficient force at his command to hold the place in the event of an
attack being made by the men of Satsuma, Tosa, and other Daimios
hostile to the Tycoon’s government, considered it prudent to resign
his authority here, and on the eighth instant left for Yokohama in
the steamer Courier, accompanied by all the Yedo officials who had
been connected with him in the management of aifairs at this port.
When on the point of leaving he addressed a letter to each of the
consuls of the treaty powers, stating that he had left the city of
Nagasaki under the protection of the Princes Hiziu and Chickuzen,
according to previous instructions from his government. His hurried
departure was doubtless owing to his having received information the
night before that his house would be attacked and burnt during the
night by a number of Rouins, about eighty, said to be in town. It
was also reported that the foreign settlement would probably be
attacked and the custom-house and bonded warehouse fired;
consequently an armed force from the Shenandoah and two English
naval vessels in port was landed for their protection. No attack,
however, was made, though we learned on the following day that
Tosa’s
[Page 681]
men took possession
of the governor’s house during the night, but found the governor had
already left. The agents here of different Daimois, fourteen in
number, the most prominent ones being Hiziu, Chickuzen, Satsuma, and
Tosa, on the day of the governor’s departure notified the foreign
consuls that pending the appointment of a governor for this port by
the Mikado they had assumed control of affairs here, and all
business would be transacted by themselves in conjunction with the
local officers; and at an interview just had with them they assured
us that no action would be taken on their part to endanger the lives
and property of foreigners, but that their interests would be
properly cared for. I have therefore adopted the course pursued by
my colleagues, with the exception of the French consul, who refuses
to recognize any one but the Princes of Hiziu and Chickuzen, and
recognized these agents as constituting the government de facto at this port, and trust that by
doing so my action will meet with your approval.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
D. L. MOORE, United States
Consul.
Gen. R. B. Van Vankenburgh, United States Minister Resident in Japan,
Hiogo.
[Untitled]
No. 25.]
United States Consulate,
Nagasaki,
February 20, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt, on the twelfth instant, of your dispatches, Nos. 20, 26,
and 28, all relating to the disturbances at Osaka, and instructing
me how to act should war occur at this port between the contending
factions.
My dispatch No. 22, of the eleventh instant, will acquaint you with
all that has transpired here up to that date, since when the
excitement has entirely subsided; the business of the port, both
native and foreign, is being conducted as usual, and foreigners
visit the native city without being molested, though the number of
two-sworded men in town has considerably increased of late.
Although the princes’ agents, now in authority, have so far conducted
matters satisfactorily, yet it is very desirable that a governor be
sent here as soon as possible, as nearly all of them are largely
indebted to foreigners, and as long as they have control here it
will be a difficult matter to obtain a settlement with them. Claims
to a considerable amount against several of them were some time ago
forwarded by me to the late governor, but they still remain
unsettled.
I have not yet been able to communicate with our consul at Hakodadi,
as requested by you, no opportunity having lately offered for that
port.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
D. L. MOORE, United States
Vice-Consul.
Gen. R. B. Van Vankenburgh, United States Minister Resident in Japan,
Hiogo.
