No. 440.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.
Tokei, July 29, 1874. (Received September 1.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of date the 21st instant, in which you instruct me to caution American citizens against hostile proceedings against China. This telegram reached me on the 26th instant, at 4 p.m.
I have, in pursuance of your instructions, notified our consuls to warn American citizens not to engage in hostile proceeding against China. On the 28th instant, notices were given by the consuls at Hiogo and Yokohama, and I presume that notice has also been given by the consul at Nagasaki in accordance with my instructions sent to him by telegram.
I have carefully considered the twenty-sixth article of the treaty with China, made at Tien-tsin, and consider it highly important to the interests of American commerce that American citizens should not be allowed to violate that provision.
On the 28th instant I had an interview with the minister for foreign affairs, in which I told him that while I had respect for the rights of Japan, and had no purpose to question her full right to judge for herself touching her relations with China, it was my duty to acquaint myself as far as possible of the actual state of affairs between Japan and China, to the end that the treaty relations of the United States with the two countries might be fully maintained. In this conversation Mr. Terashima informed me that China had made two communications to Japan since the invasion of Formosa by the Japanese forces in relation thereto first, that the Japanese forces should withdraw from the island; and second, that the Japanese having inflicted punishment upon the Bootang savages, should at once recall their forces, and China would pledge herself to build a light-house upon the northeast coast of Formosa, and to furnish protection hereafter to foreign commerce upon that coast by a land and naval force. To my astonishment I was informed that Japan had not accepted either of these conditions, and I was left to infer, therefore, that the conditions were rejected, because Japan purposes to retain possession of that portion of the island of Formosa. Mr. Terashima also informed me that China has withdrawn her second proposition, and is actively engaged in preparing for war. He concluded [Page 694] by saying that the Japanese embassador has reached Peking and is now engaged in negotiation, with the Chinese government, but that he, Mr. Terashima, is not yet advised of the result.
Referring to your instruction No. 43, of date the 6th ultimo, I beg leave to thank you for the expression therein of confidence entertained by the Department in my discretion, and also for the views therein expressed with relation to the scope and effect of the act of 1860.
I am, &c.,