Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
No. 55.]
Legation of the United States,
Yokohama,
May 30, 1868.
Sir: When the commissioners for foreign
affairs, Hizen Jijin and Hagashi Kuze Jijin, arrived here on the 11th
instant, they presented the legation, on the occasion of their visit to
me, with a set of official or government gazettes, published in Kioto,
up to No. 9; only the sixth number was omitted. This contained, I
learned, an article on religion. I promptly succeeded in procuring a
copy, and then found, to my extreme regret, that this article was
nothing less than a proclamation by the Mikado prohibiting Christianity
in Japan.
I inclose herewith No. 1, translation of that proclamation, and No. 2,
copy of a circular letter I at once addressed to my colleagues, the
representatives of the treaty powers, inviting them to co-operate, with
the view of procuring from the Mikado the repeal of that
proclamation.
At a conference of the representatives, held in pursuance of my
invitation, it was unanimously agreed to address an identical letter on
this important subject to the commissioners for foreign affairs, copy of
which is herewith transmitted, inclosure No. 3.
The British minister was not present at that conference; he has since
returned from Osaka, and cordially assented to our proceedings.
I still hope to be able to communicate to you the reply of the
commissioners by this mail.
While at Osaka the British minister heard of the issue of the
proclamation, and promptly had an interview with the Mikados minister on
the subject, the result of which he furnished me in a letter, copy of
which I inclose, marked No. 4.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
Proclamation Board No. 3,
The Christian and other evil religions are strictly prohibited. Any
person suspected of violating this commandment must be reported to
the proper officers, and the reporter shall be rewarded.
The 3d month of the 4th year of Ke Wo, (April, 1868.)
Government Office.
Mr. Van Valkenburgh to His Excellency Leiu
Roches,.
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yokohama,
May 23, 1868.
Sir: I herewith transmit, for your
information, translation of a proclamation issued by his Majesty the
Mikado during the last month, and which appeared in the Daijokan
Neshi, (No 6,) the official organ of the Japanese government,
published at Kioto.
The prohibition of Christianity is an act so deeply affecting the
important interests the foreign representatives have the honor to
represent, that I have deemed it my duty to invite your co-operation
in concerting the measures it may be necessary to adopt
[Page 750]
with a view of inducing
the Japanese government to promptly retrace their steps and revoke
the offensive proclamation in question.
I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
in Japan.
His Excellency Leiu Roches, His Imperial Majesty’s Minister
Plenipotentiary in Japan.
And to the other foreign representatives; same date and
tenor.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yokohama,
May 26, 1868.
The undersigned has learned, from the sixth number of the official
Gazette so kindly furnished him by your excellencies, that his
Majesty the Mikado has issued an edict prohibiting Christianity
throughout this empire, designating it as an evil religion, and
offering to reward those who report any person suspected of an
infringement of this law. The same edict has been affixed to the
notification boards, at the entrance of all the native towns and
villages, and also of Yokohama.
While disclaiming any intention of interfering with the internal
affairs of Japan, I deem it my duty to call your excellencies’
attention to the fact that the Christian religion is the religion I
have the honor to represent; that my government has the most
friendly relations with the government of Japan, and that the issue
of such an edict as that above mentioned will tend to affect those
relations, apart from its being in disaccord with the
ever-enlightened spirit of the age.
As the representative of a Christian nation, I urge upon your
government the reconsideration of this important matter, and trust I
may soon be informed that this respectful but earnest appeal to the
enlightened and humane feelings of his Majesty the Mikado has led to
a prompt repeal of this edict, so little in accordance with the
often-repeated assurances of friendly feelings to foreigners and
their institutions, which your government has given to the
representatives of the treaty powers. I respectfully ask your
excellencies to lay this letter before his Majesty the Mikado.
With respect and esteem,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States in Japan.
Their Excellencies Hizen Jijin and Higashi Kuze Jijin, Commissioners for Foreign Affairs, &c., &c.,
&c.
Mr. H. S. Parkes to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.
British
Legation,Yokohama,
May 29, 1868.
Sir: On my return to Yokohama, on the 27th
instant, I had the honor to receive your letter of the 23d, drawing
my attention to the edict against Christianity, which is published
in the sixth number of the Kioto Gazette.
I share most fully with yourself the concern which you feel on
finding that the old prohibition against the Christian faith has
been revived by the new government, and it may be interesting to you
to know that my recent visit to Osaka gave me an opportunity of
conveying to the highest sources of the Mikado’s government similar
remonstrances to those which, I understand, have been addressed by
yourself and all our colleagues to the Japanese ministers who are at
present here. At a meeting at which I was received on the 19th
instant by several of the principal personages of the Mikado’s
court, I endeavored to impress upon them the injurious effect which
the republication of this edict is calculated to create upon all
nations who have treaty relations with Japan, and who without
exception profess the faith which is not only proscribed by this
edict, but also unjustifiably stigmatised as an evil sect. Such a
measure, I pointed out, was incompatible with the professions of a
friendship recently offered by the Mikado to the treaty powers, and
was calculated to defeat those efforts which are being made upon the
spot to bring about intimate relations between foreign countries and
Japan.
I was also able to urge in the sense in which I have been instructed
by her Majesty’s government that religious zeal is more likely to be
inflamed than subdued by persecution, and that, although it may not
yet suit the Japanese system to openly recognize the profession of
Christianity by nations, it would be better that the Japanese
government should exercise all the toleration in their power rather
than acquire throughout Europe and America the reputation of
persecuting the faith accepted in those
[Page 751]
continents, and so incur the ill will of all
civilized nations to whose feelings religious persecution is most
abhorrent.
I am bound to say that the Mikado’s ministers received my
observations in good part, and promised to give them attentive
consideration. They dwelt in courteous but decided terms on the
difficulties which lie in the way of the toleration of a faith which
is connected with painful antecedents in their history, which
appeals to feelings of the deepest sectarian animosity, and is
unfortunately regarded by the Japanese as subversive of their
existing political system. I could not feel surprised that remarks
of this nature should be returned to those which I had advanced, but
the tone in which they were urged left me reason to hope that the
Mikado’s government is not wholly indifferent to the opinions of
foreign governments on this subject, and may therefore be willing to
listen to the representations which they have almost simultaneously
received from the consuls of all the treaty powers at Nagasaki, the
foreign representatives at Yokohama, and from myself at Osaka.
In conclusion, I have to acknowledge your considerate invitation of
co-operation, and to assure you that I shall always be disposed to
join with you and our colleagues in endeavoring to gain by friendly
means the tolerance by this government of those sentiments which
belong to the highest sympathies of all Christian states. I have the
honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
His Excellency R. B. Van Valkenburgh,
Minister Resident of the United States in
Japan.
