Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I received this day a visit from Higashi Kuze Chinjio, who came to ask “whether I could now deliver the Stonewall to the Mikado’s government.”
In reply I informed him that I had not yet received instructions to deliver this ship, but that I hoped that the United States mail due here about the 26th instant would bring me some definite information on the subject.
Higashi Kuze then said that the Mikado’s government, being at war, had great need of her at present. “If peace should be restored—and it was hoped that this would soon be accomplished—there would then be no use for the ship,” He then asked, “If your government continue to hold that ship, will they refund the $400,000 already paid for her by the late Tycoon? We are in want of money.”
I informed him that the Tycoon’s government had paid $300,000 and not $400,000 for her, on account, leaving a balance of $100,000, with interest, to be paid on delivery of the ship, besides some other expenses. I added that I was not prepared to say whether the United States would refund the money at all to the Mikado’s government, inasmuch as the ship had been purchased and principally paid for by the late Tycoon; but that question, I assured him, it would give me much pleasure to submit to you if he desired it. The Mikado’s representative and his councillors then stated that the property of the Tycoon had all been turned over to the new government, which was therefore entitled to receive either the Stonewall or the money paid for her by the Tycoon. They preferred the ship to the money, as she would be of great service to them at present, and wished to know what the expenses of keeping her amounted to, as they believed them to be quite large.
In reply to this I stated that I had not yet received any distinct official information as to what property had actually been turned over by the Tycoon to the Mikado. I assured them that the expenses of keeping the Stonewall were not large, and that I expected those expenses to be refunded on the delivery of the ship. I reminded them that while at Osaka and Hiogo in the early part of the year both Mikado and Tycoon requested me that the United States should maintain strict neutrality in the struggle that was then impending, and it was in accordance with those requests and in concert with my colleagues that I issued a notification of neutrality, which met the approval of both. Under those circumstances and while war was existing it was impossible for me to deliver the Stonewall, and it was with what I rightfully considered the assent of both parties that I held her under the American flag, and I would continue to do so until otherwise directed.
The Mikado’s officers admitted the justice of this action and asked me to give them notice as soon as I would be prepared to deliver the ship.
They then suddenly asked me whether I was willing to withdraw my neutrality notification, as there was no war between the Mikado and the Tycoon. To my question, however, whether war existed in Japan at present, they promptly replied in the affirmative, and on my asking who were the belligerents, they stated that the Mikado’s government on the one side and Aidzu and other northern Daimios on the other were at war.
I then asked whether it was true that armed ships and soldiers had [Page 822] recently dispatched from Nagasaki to the north for the purpose of carrying on the war. This was also answered in the affirmative, but to my question whether it was true that those ships had instructions to fire into and take any foreign vessels found in the port of Neegata they replied that “they did not think such instructions had been given, though foreign vessels had no right to visit that port, which had not been opened.”
It could not be denied, I stated, that under the agreement made between the foreign representatives and the late Tycoon’s government Neegata was to have been opened on the 1st of April last. No arrangement had since been made to postpone the opening or keep it closed. The foreign representatives have a right, therefore, to consider it opened; and some, if not all of them, do so consider it.
The Mikado’s officers then reminded me of the letter addressed to all the foreign representatives asking that in view of the war and until it shall have ceased, the port of Neegata might remain closed. To which I replied that, in compliance with that request, they were aware I had instructed the consuls of the United States to permit no American vessels to clear for that port; those instructions had not been cancelled, but the Mikado’s officers were also aware, no doubt, that some of the representatives had distinctly permitted their countrymen to visit Neegata for purposes of trade; that port had consequently been visited and was therefore opened in fact.
It was again asserted by the Mikado’s officers that the opening of the port was not desired. They had no custom-house there and could collect no duties. Not only had all the representatives been addressed in writing, but he (Higashi Kuze) had held a conference with them on the subject. I reminded them that I had been present at that conference, and that no definite arrangement had been made to keep Neegata closed; the representatives had not all been willing to consent to such a measure.
At that conference, held some four weeks after the 1st of April, Higashi Kuze had even admitted that he had no right to insist upon its remaining closed in the face of the existing agreement that it was to have been opened on the date named.
Higashi Kuze reluctantly admitted this, but observed that at all events foreign vessels had no right to visit other ports on the west coast. This I informed him was quite right, in so far that foreign vessels could not enter unopened ports on the west coast for purposes of trade, unless by some act of their own they had caused them to be considered opened.
The Mikado’s officers have repeatedly applied to foreign merchants to charter vessels to convey troops to the north and west coasts, and in some cases, I have reason to suspect, successfully. Higashi Kuze, being of course perfectly aware of the meaning of my remark, prudently abstained from arguing that matter; neither did I deem it of much importance to call his further attention to it. I therefore only informed him again that Neegata was opened de facto, and they would have no right to seize or confiscate foreign vessels visiting there.
They again begged me to withdraw my neutrality notification, when I asked them how I could consistently do so, while war was ranging in Japan, as they freely had admitted, and while it was generally known that all the troops and ships they could spare were being sent to the north for that purpose. In conclusion, I informed them that I would be pleased at all times to confer with my colleagues on the subject and to act in concert with them.
The conversation then turned upon existing differences between them and our consul at this port in regard to seizures and confiscations of American property by their subordinate officers, to which I shall not [Page 823] further refer at present, as I believe that those matters will be settled shortly in a satisfactory manner.
When Higashi Kuze and suite took their departure he informed them that the Mikado was expected to arrive in Yedo in about six weeks, and as he expressed the wish that I would then see his Majesty, I replied that I hoped to have the honor of an audience on that occasion.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.