No. 374.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. Bingham.
Washington, March 21, 1883.
Sir: I inclose herewith a draft on the Treasury of the United States for the sum of $785,000.87 payable to my order as Secretary of State of the United States and made payable to your order by my indorsement thereon.
The sum above named you are instructed to pay to the Government of Japan in fulfillment of the act of Congress on the 22d of February, 1883, providing for the reimbursement to the Government of Japan of the amount received from that Government by the United States in pursuance of the stipulations of the convention concluded with Japan on the 22d of October, 1864, and denominated in general phrase as the “Simonoseki” indemnity.
In discharging the duty imposed upon you by this instruction, you will take occasion to express to the minister for foreign affairs of Japan the satisfaction which the President feels in being enabled by the action of Congress to carry out the desire long entertained by this Government to return this money to Japan, and that he does not doubt but that it will be accepted by that Government as an additional evidence, if such were needed, of the friendly interest felt by the Government of the United States in everything that concerns the welfare and progress of the people and Government of that country.
I inclose a copy of the act of Congress referred to.
I am, &c.,