No. 411.
Mr. Hubbard to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Tokio, January 17, 1887.
(Received February 12.)
No. 274.]
Sir: On receipt of the recent message of the
Presidents United States, communicated to the two Houses of Congress at the
beginning of the second session of the Forty-ninth Congress, I transmitted a
copy of the same to his excellency Count Inouye, His Imperial Japanese
[Page 657]
Majesty’s minister for foreign
affairs, respectfully calling his attention to that portion of the message
especially relating to Japan.
I have pleasure in inclosing copies of my note to the foreign minister
conveying the said message and his reply thereto, respectfully directing
your attention to his grateful acknowledgment of the earnest and consistent
friendship of the United States towards Japan as expressed by the President;
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 274.]
Mr. Hubbard to
Count Inouye.
Legation of the United States,
Tokio, Japan, January 7,
1887.
count: I have the honor and pleasure herewith
to transmit to your excellency the following extract from the recent
annual message of the President of the United States of America to the
Congress at the opening session on the first Monday in December last.
Referring to the relation of my Government with your excellency’s
Government, under the head of “Foreign relations” the President was
pleased to say to Congress as follows: “The Japanese treaty.—The
question of a general revision of the treaties of Japan is again under
discussion at Tokio. As the first to open relations with that Empire,
and as the nation in most direct commercial relation with Japan, the
United States have lost no opportunity to testify their consistent
friendship by supporting its just claims arid independence among
nations. A treaty of extradition between the United States and Japan,
the first concluded by that Empire, has been lately proclaimed.” These
words of the Chief Magistrate of a republic of sixty millions at the
moment when the treaty powers are considering the necessary revision of
the treaties which have remained comparatively unchanged for a third of
a century and for over a decade of years since Japan by, express
stipulation had a right to demand such revision, are the expression of
the popular will and sincere friendship of my countrymen toward your
Empire.
I need not assure your excellency and His Imperial Majesty that the
assurances officially announced by the President of the United States on
such an important occasion find a hearty response and approval by the
minister of that Government accredited to this court.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
274.—Translation.]
Count Inouye to Mr.
Hubbard.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokio, 10 day, 1st month, 20 year
of Meijii.
sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s dispatch No. 150, of the 7th instant, in
which you have been so kind as to communicate to me the official text of
the message of the President of the United States with reference to the
question of the revision of the treaties between Japan and the western
powers. It will afford me great satisfaction to report the tenor of your
excellency’s dispatch to my august sovereign, and I am confident that
His Majesty will receive with pleasure this renewed evidence of the
good-will and friendly feelings of the United States Government.
I am glad to be able to seize this opportunity to express to your
excellency personally also my acknowledgments for the manner in which
you have, both during the labors of the conference and in your official
relations with this department, contributed to carry into effect the
friendly and enlightened policy which has always distinguished the
relations of the United States with this Empire.
I avail, etc.,
