Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
No. 39.]
Legation of the United States,
Yokohama,
April 18, 1868.
Sir: In supplement to my dispatch No. 32, of
the 2d instant, informing you that with the view of preventing large
bodies of armed men from visiting this town in the present unsettled
state of this country, a system of passports had been agreed upon, I now
have the honor to transmit inclosure No. 1, copy of a resolution
unanimously adopted by the foreign representatives, having for its
object the better enforcement of the system referred to, by preventing
the landing of armed Japanese along the water front of Yokohama.
I transmit inclosure No. 2, copy of my letter to Commander Garter, the
senior naval officer, in pursuance of that resolution, and No. 3, copy
of his reply.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
Yokohama,
April 17, 1868.
The undersigned representatives, having this day met, unanimously
adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, That in consequence of the arrival
in this harbor of Japanese steamers carrying large numbers of
troops, the naval and military officers of the respective forces be
requested to take, as soon as possible, such measures as are
necessary to prevent the landing of armed Japanese along the water
front of Yokohama.
D. DE GRAEFF VON POLSBROECK.
Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Commodore Carter.
No. 48.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yokohama,
April 17, 1868.
Sir: At a meeting of the representatives of
the treaty powers, held this afternoon, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted:
“Resolved, That in consequence of the arrival
in this harbor of Japanese steamers carrying large numbers of
troops, the naval and military officers of the respective forces be
requested to take, as soon as possible, such measures as are
necessary to prevent the landing of armed Japanese along the water
front of Yokohama.”
Will you please co-operate with your colleagues in carrying out this
resolution?
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States in Japan.
Commander S. P. Carter, Senior U. S. Naval Officer Commanding U. S.
Steamer Monocacy.
[Untitled]
United States Steamer
Monocacy, Yokohama,
April 18, 1868.
General: I have the honor to acknowledge
your communication of the 17th instant, advising me, as senior
officer of the United States naval force in this port, of the
[Page 722]
resolution unanimously
adopted by the representatives of the treaty powers at a meeting
held by them on that day. In compliance with your wish I met the
senior officers of the English, French, and Prussian vessels this
afternoon on board her Britannic Majesty’s ship Rodney, and have the
honor to inclose a copy of the resolutions adopted in the
conference.
The guard of United States marines will be moved to the hatoba, in
front of the custom-house, at once, or as soon as the Japanese guard
is detailed for the posts, as proposed. I am, general, respectfully,
your obedient servant,
S. P. CARTER, Commander and Senior
Officer in Port.
General R, B. Van Valkenburgh, United States Minister Resident in Japan.
The undersigned, at a conference held on board her Britannic
Majesty’s ship Rodney, having had under consideration the proposal
of the foreign representatives, that measures shall be conjointly
arranged to prevent the landing of armed men from the Japanese
steamers arriving at Yokohama, resolve as follows:
1. That passes should be granted to the commanders of Japanese
vessels arriving at this anchorage similar to those given to the
governor of Kanagawa.
2. That the native authorities be solicited to station a guard at the
French and English hatobas, with instructions to prevent the landing
of armed Japanese who are unprovided with passes.
3. That this native guard shall be supported at the French hatoba by
the marines stationed at the French hospital, and at the English
hatoba by the American marines stationed at No. 7 guard.
The above regulations appear to the undersigned sufficient for the
present. They cannot suggest measures that would completely prevent
the landing of armed Japanese along the whole course of the Bund
without assuming an aggressive attitude.
HENRY KEPPOL, Vice-Admiral and
Commander-in-chief of H. B. M. Naval
Forces.
ROY, Commodore his Imperial Majesty’s Ship
Venus.
KUHN, Captain his Prussian Majesty’s Ship
Vineta.
S. P. CARTER, Commander United States
Steamer Monocacy.
CHANDOS S. STANHOPE, Captain her Britannic
Majesty’s Ship Ocean.
