Office of the Historian

No. 249.
Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish.

United States Legation, Japan,
December 24, 1872. (Received February 25, 1873.)
No. 325.]

Sir: I have the honor to advise you that by request of the Japanese government I have published a notification advising foreigners that the Japanese may not convey to them any lands, or pledge the title-deeds of such property as collateral security, (inclosure No. 1;) also a notification informing the public that owing to the inexperience of the Japanese employés in the telegraph department this government cannot undertake [Page 566] at present to guarantee certainty or expedition in communicating dispatches. (Inclosure No. 2.)

I beg leave also to advise you that I have this day addressed a note to each United States consular officer in this empire, inclosing a copy of these notifications for the information of our countrymen residing at the several ports.

I have, &c.,

C. E. DE LONG.
[Inclosure 1.]

Notification.

American citizens resident in Japan are hereby advised that the Japanese government has issued the following notification to its people, and requested the undersigned to make the same known to his countrymen.

C. E. DE LONG,
United States Minister.

[Copy of translation.]

Every one within the limits of this empire is strictly prohibited from selling any ground to foreigners, although the same may be their property, or to give them the title-deeds of such ground as security for any bargain whatsoever.

Let the above be published through the whole country, so that even among the lower classes no misapprehension may exist.

[Inclosure 2.]

Notification.

United States Legation,
December 23, 1872.

The undersigned publishes, for the information of his countrymen in Japan, the following letter, received by him on the 20th instant, with an accompanying proclamation by the public works department.

C. E. DE LONG,
United States Minister.
[Translation.]

Soyeshima Tane-omi to Mr. De Long.

Foreign Office,
Tokei, 20th of 11th month of 5th year of Meiji.

Sir: I had the honor to communicate to your excellency, in a letter dated the 2d of the 9th month, that a telegraphic line from Tokei to Kioto having been completed, it would be opened on the 7th of the same month for public use; but on account of its being only recently finished the operators are not fairly accustomed to its working, and delay is often caused; so I beg leave to hand to your excellency the accompanying proclamation issuing from the department of public works.

With respect and consideration,

SOYESHIMA TANE-OMI.
H. I. J. M. Minister for Foreign Affairs.

His Excellency C. E. De Long,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of United States and Hawaiian Islands.

The section of telegraph between Tokei, Osaka, and Kobe, being part of the intended line to Nagasaki, was opened to the public, as a preliminary measure, almost as soon as that part of the line had been constructed.

[Page 567]

There have, however, frequently been delays and interruptions of communications in consequence of the want of skill and experience of the young clerks, and other causes impossible to avoid at the beginning in working an extensive line, but which the officers are busy looking after at all times.

If any interruption happens at intermediate stations, messages must be sent by post to the next nearest station having communication, in order to obtain as much as possible the convenience of the telegraph.

As in the commencement of working a line these matters are unavoidable, the foreign and native community are requested to notice the above, as this department cannot hold itself responsible for delays.

An increase of telegraphic means of communication is being rapidly pushed forward, and as soon as completed, and after great inspection, between Tokei and Nagasaki, it is expected all complaints on this head will cease to have any foundation.

11th month, 5th Meiji, Telegraph Department.