No. 417.
Mr. Bayard to Mr. Kuki.
Washington, August 18, 1887.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the communication by you, through the medium of Assistant Secretary Porter, to whom you handed it on the 9th instant, of a copy of an undated telegram addressed to you by his excellency Count Inouye, minister for foreign affairs of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, relative to the discussion, which had taken place in the conference of treaty-revision at Tokio, in regard to the draft of the jurisdictional convention submitted by the imperial cabinet, and announcing the adjournment of the conference, on the 29th ultimo, sine die, until the Japanese Government shall be enabled to present the results of the necessary preliminary codification of the laws of Japan.
I receive his excellency’s declaration that, while regretting this interruption of the conference, it is not the purpose of the Government of Japan to relinquish the work of progress, but on the contrary to pursue it in a manner compatible with the national dignity.
It is trusted that a speedy and satisfactory result may be reached, which, while affording to foreign residents in the Empire the fullest assurance that their national rights will be upheld, will also subserve the purpose of establishing Japan’s administrative autonomy.
Accept, etc.,