No. 195.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Tokei,
Japan, March 7, 1877. (Received April
7.)
No. 518.]
Sir: After all that I have communicated hitherto on
the subject of the Kagoshima insurrection, it seems due to this government”
that I should inclose herewith, as part of the record, a translation of His
Majesty’s order deposing Marshal Saigo, shosami (officer of the third rank
under the government), and Kirino Toshiaki and Shinowara Kuni-kado, generals
of the army and officers of the fifth rank.
I have the honor to inclose a translation of the proclamation of His
Excellency Sanjô Saneyoshi, daijo daijin (prime minister), in which his
excellency gives the reasons of His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s decree for
deposing from office the several persons named.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
518.—Translation.]
from the emperor’s temporary
quarters.
Proclamation is hereby made that the following notification has been sent
to Kagoshima Ken.
SANJO SANEYOSHI,
Daijo
Daijin.
25th of 2d month of 10th year of
Meiji.
notification to kagoshima ken.
Whereas Saigo Takanori, marshal of the empire and shosami (officer of
the third rank under the government), and Kirino Toshiaki and
Shinowara Kunikado, both generals of the army and shogoi (government
officers of the fifth rank), have collected insurgents and engaged
in acts of rebellion, the Emperor hereby gives notice that they are
deposed from their rank.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
518.—Translation.]
proclamation.
The reasons for the imperial order for the suppression of the rebellion
in Kagoshima Ken are the following:
- 1st.
- On the night of the 31st of the 1st month of this year, a
number of insurgents broke into the arsenal in Kagoshima Ken,
belonging to the army and navy departments and violently took
many of the small arms and much of the ammunition there
stored
- 2d.
- On the nights of the 2d and 3d of the 2d month, they again
violently entered the same place, treated the officers in charge
with violence and disrespect, and took away all of the arms,
ammunition, and other articles found in the store-houses.
- 3d.
- They took possession of the dock-yard belonging to the navy
department, and changed its name.
- 4th.
- On the 8th of the same month, they stopped the government mail
steamer, the Taikei-Maru, on her way from Loo-choo, and
unlawfully detained the officers on board.
- 5th.
- Again, when it was reported that many disorderly persons had
assembled together with arms, and that the state of things was
threatening, Vice-Admiral Kawamura, and Hayashi, vice-minister
of the department of the interior, were sent by the Emperor to
Kagoshima. After the arrival of these two envoys in the harbor
on board the Takawo-Maru, they sent two officers ashore as
messengers to the kenrei (governor), who were immediately
arrested by the insurgents, who also took arms and embarked in
small vessels to attack the Takawo-Maru. This vessel left that
place when about to be fired upon, and anchored off the
neighboring coast, where they had an interview with the kenrei,
Mr. Oyama, in order to investigate the state of affairs. The
insurgents, after pillaging the arms above named, dispersed for
the time, The police, however, arrested several persons and took
their testimony to the effect that there were lawless assemblies
of persons who disturbed the public mind by stirring up
rebellion. These facts [Page 354]
being ascertained, the two envoys returned to the capital and
made their report to the Emperor. While he was considering what
further steps were to be taken, on the 18th of last month Saigo
Takanori, Kirino Toshiaki, and Shinowara Kunikado, entered
Kumamoto Ken at the head of the insurgents, under arms,
pretending that they entered to address (petition) the
government. They disregarded the laws of the country, and
disturbed the peace by the rebellious acts which they committed.
In consequence, the Emperor’s anger was greatly provoked,
whereupon he issued the imperial order for the suppression of
the insurgents, to preserve the iaws, and hereby publishes the
reasons for the same to the people of the various provinces that
they may not at this time be deceived by unfounded rumors, and
that all officers in charge may observe his wishes.
SANJÔ SANEYOSHI,
Daijo
Daijin.
25th of 2d month, 10th year of
Meiji.
