No. 244
Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish.
November 6, 1872. (Received December 7.)
Sir: Upon learning, some time since, from the minister of foreign affairs for this empire, that the kingdom of Lew Chew had at last been formally incorporated into this empire, and the King reduced to the condition of an ex-daimio and assigned a residence at Yedo, which he had accepted, I felt called upon to call the attention of this government to the compact between our Government and that of Lew Chew, proclaimed by the President March 9, 1855, and to inquire if that would be respected and observed by this government, as it, in its provisions, gave to our people certain privileges not embodied in our treaty with Japan. Accordingly, I addressed a note to this government making such inquiry, (inclosure No. 1,) to which, on yesterday, I received an answer, (inclosure No. 2,) by which these authorities agree to regard the same.
Having learned that recently a junk’s crew of Lew Chew people, who had been wrecked on Formosa, had been slain by the natives of that island, I inquired verbally of his excellency to know if such report was true; and if so, what, if anything, this government intended to do about it. I was informed, in reply, that it was true, and an intimation was thrown out that steps would soon be taken by the Japanese government to punish those people. The minister then inquired of me very particularly about Formosa; the character, purposes, and result of the expedition against those people led by our late Admiral Bell, and expressed the wish that I would obtain for him from our naval officers any copies of maps or charts possible.
All this seemed to indicate an intention to fit out an armed expedition.
At this juncture, which was about two weeks ago, General L. P. Le Gendre, United States consul at Amoy, arrived here en route to Washington, having a very full and complete set of maps, charts, photographs, &c., of the coast, main-land, and people of Formosa.
From him I learned that he had, on several occasions, visited the people who committed the atrocities, and established such relations with them as had enabled him to obtain guarantees against such atrocities being committed in the future upon Americans. that these people had observed their promises, and in two subsequent cases cared for and protected the crews of two English ships which were wrecked there; that diplomatic negotiations of some nature were now pending between our Government and China relative to this island, and that, in his opinion, [Page 554] it was feasible to undertake to obtain by peaceable means the same nature of guarantees for the Japanese.
Upon learning this, I thought I observed an opportunity, with the assistance the general could and seemed willing to lend me, to furnish this government with a mass of information most useful to it, thereby saving it from making any ill-advised efforts, and at the same time to put our legation at Peking and yourself in such rapport with the views and intentions of this government as to be of substantial benefit to us and at the same time advance my standing and intimacy with this government.
Actuated by these views, I requested General Le Gendre to remain over here for one steamer and assist me with this government by imparting to it such information relative to his observations of Formosa and its inhabitants as in his opinion and my own might, without impropriety, be given.
The general kindly consented to do so, and an interview between us and the minister of foreign affairs followed.
The minister expressed himself as surprised and delighted at thus being brought in contact with one so well informed on a subject so very interesting to them, and yet about which they could learn so little. The minister at once extended accommodations for the general in Yedo; invited my participation in all deliberations with Mr. Smith, the general, and himself, and has twice visited me and conferred upon the subject, being with me last evening until nearly midnight. The plan of action has not yet been resolved upon, but the minister assures me that his action shall be as open as the day to me, and that he will frame it to coincide with the wishes of our legation at Peking and of yourself.
I will at once advise Mr. Low of these proceedings by sending him a copy of this dispatch and writing him fully as often as anything develops of interest.
General Le Gendre will be compelled to remain over here at least one steamer more; that is, two weeks.
My obligations to him are very great. By his intelligence and courtesy, he has enabled me to serve this government in a substantial manner, which will, I am sure, materially strengthen my influence with them, and, as a consequence, promote our Government’s interests. I think, also, that before this matter is concluded we shall be able to arm Mr. Low with power and information calculated to enable him to effect good results and improve his influence with the Chinese government. I hope in all of this that I have acted as you would have wished me to; if not, however, and you should disapprove of what has been done, I beg you to let the whole blame rest on me, as General Le Gendre has, in all matters, acted simply by my request, although I am satisfied that such action has also been in accordance with his own views and wishes.
I have, &c.,