Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
No. 32.]
Legation of the United States,
Yokohama,
April 3, 1868.
Sir: On the 30th ultimo several soldiers
belonging to the advance of the Mikado’s army, on their way to Yedo,
visited this place, and this
[Page 707]
continued on the two days following. They appeared to be under no
command, and their presence evidently caused some uneasiness both among
the foreign and the native population. Uninvited they entered foreign
houses and behaved quite rudely. I agreed with my colleagues upon a
preventive measure of joint occupation of the approaches to this town,
copy of which agreement I herewith have the honor to transmit, inclosure
No. 1.
In accordance therewith I addressed a letter to Commander S. P. Carter,
commanding the “Monocacy,” and senior naval officer, inviting him to
carry out this agreement in co-operation with the naval and military
authorities of the other nationalities, and I now transmit inclosure No.
2, copy of his reply; covering copy of the arrangement entered into by
him for the protection or defense of this town.
A system of passports was also established; such passports were issued by
the legations and countersigned by the governor of the port, by whom
they are distributed only to such two-sworded men who resort hither on
duty or on lawful business.
This measure, now in operation, has given general satisfaction at this
place, and the uneasiness first experienced has entirely subsided.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
The undersigned representatives of France. Great Britain, Italy,
Prussia, and the United States, taking into consideration the
present troubled state of affairs, and the fact that large numbers
of armed men are straggling into the foreign as well as the native
quarter of the town of Yokohama, unattended apparently by
responsible officers, and that the government also appears unable to
maintain order, hereby agree to request their respective naval and
military commanders to adopt the following measures:
1. To occupy permanently the posts marked in the annexed plan,
conjointly with Japanese guards. The foreign commanders should not
for the moment interfere with the ingress of any Japanese, unless
called upon to do so by the Japanese guard, but should be prepared
to resist foreigners generally in case of alarm or attack.
More explicit instructions will be given for their guidance as soon
as possible.
2. To concert measures to land additional forces in case they should
be required.
Commander Carter to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.
United States Steamer
Monocacy, Off
Yokohama,
April 2, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information a copy of the arrangements made this day by the naval
and military commanders of the treaty powers for the protection and
defense of the foreign settlement of Yokohama.
I shall be obliged if you will send me a copy of the second letter,
written and signed conjointly by the ministers, on the subject of
restricting the Japanese entering Yokohama to those provided with a
pass from one of the consulates.
Some of the commanders who were at the conference had been furnished
with a copy of the above letter, but I have not yet received
one.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. R. B. Van Vankenburgh, Minister Resident of the United States in
Japan.
[Page 708]
[Untitled]
1. The naval and military commanders of the foreign nations
having assembled and read over the requisitions of the foreign
representative ministers, as communicated in two letters dated
2d instant, have decided to place guards at the posts as marked
in the inclosed plan, as follows:
No. 1. French, two sentries.
No. 2. English, two sentries.
No. 3. English, four sentries, two bridges to defend. There
should be a strong guard here, say one officer and twenty
men.
No. 4. Main bridge leading to the Tocaido, an important point,
furnishes by the English two officers and thirty men. Two guns
to be placed at the gates to send out patrols.
No. 5. Prussian, twenty-live men; also to guard Prussian legation
and patrol.
No. 6. French, sixteen men, to guard French legation and patrol;
also to guard the wharf.
No. 7. American, (custom-house,) twenty-five men, as a central
force and patrol. To place here two English guns, two carts with
intrenching tools, and seven fire-engines, (Ocean’s.)
No. 8. French, (French hospital,) seven men. These positions to
be occupied immediately after the approval of the ministers.
2. In case of an attack in force the naval and military
commanders have made every arrangement to re-enforce these posts
and defend the settlement.
3. Alarm signals, as follows:
By day, two guns to be fired in quick succession from French
quarters, and a signal from French flag-staff, answered by a
flag at fore from each man-of-war.
By night, two guns as above, followed by a rocket, answered by a
rocket from each man-of-war.
