Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Historical Documents
  3. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1877
  4. Document 192

No. 192.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Tokei, Japan , February 23, 1877. (Received March 26.)
No. 507.]

Sir: Referring to my lo. 503, of date the 9th instant, in relation to the reported insurrection in the province of Kagoshima (Satsuma) in the south of this empire, I have the honor to acquaint you that on the 19th instant His Excellency Iwakura Tomomi, His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s acting prime minister, issued a proclamation to the effect that certain insurgents of Kagoshima Ken had lawlessly invaded Kumamoto Ken by arms, wherefore an imperial order had issued to Prince Arisagowa to suppress the insurgents by His Majesty’s forces. By the same proclamation the several Fu, Ken, and She are ordered to take measures to prevent the escape of the insurgents into the various provinces of the empire.

Should the insurrection become formidable you will doubtless be advised thereof by telegrams through the public press, and in the event, I beg leave to suggest that I be instructed to make proclamation to all citizens of the United States of America within this empire to abstain, as required by our laws, from enlisting “in the service of one portion of the people of Japan against any other portion of the people thereof.” (Revised Statutes, p. 793, sec. 4090.)

I have the honor to inclose a translation of Mr. Iwakura’s proclamation.

I have, &c.,

JNO. A. BINGHAM.
[Inclosure.]
[Extract from the Nichi Nichi Shimbun, February 20, 1877.]

The rebels of Kagoshima Ken having shown hostile disposition by lawlessly entering Kumamoto with arms, an imperial order for their suppression has been issued, of which the following notice was given yesterday:

To the officers of the various departments, and to the city government of Tokei:

The rebels of Kagoshima Ken having lawlessly entered Kumamoto Ken with arms, thereby showing their active hostility, an imperial order has been issued for their suppression by forces under the command of Prince Arisagawa. Inasmuch as the rebels may escape to the various provinces, proclamation is made to the Fu, Ken, and She to take the necessary precautions.

IWAKURA TOMOMI,
U-Daijin.

9th of 2d month, 10 Meiji. (February 19, 1877.)