Mr. Swift to Mr.
Blaine.
Legation of
the United States,
Tokio, July 23, 1889.
(Received August 14.)
No. 32.]
Sir: Referring to the correspondence which has
heretofore taken place between the Department and this legation in relation
to the appropriation by Congress to reward the inhabitants of the island of
Tanegashima, Japan, for rescuing the crew of the wrecked American bark Cashmere, I have now the honor to inclose a copy of a
note from the Japanese minister for foreign affairs, signifying the decision
of his Government as to the disposition of the fund appropriated. It will be
observed that on account of the distance which separates the two villages
interested, it has been deemed impracticable to establish one school for the
common benefit of both: but it has been decided that the fund be equally
divided and two distinct educational funds thus formed, one for each of the
two villages, the money to be invested in Japanese consolidated bonds.
As the arrangement thus proposed by the local authorities and sanctioned by
the Imperial Government would carry out the will of Congress in the
premises, I have forwarded to the minister for foreign affairs my draft on
Messrs. Brown, Shipley & Co., London, for £1,027 8s. 8d., being the full amount appropriated
for the purpose, viz, $5,000, at $4,8665.
I have the honor to inclose a copy of my note to the minister for foreign
affairs transmitting the draft, as well as a copy of the draft, and will
forward the receipts as soon as received.
I have, etc,
[Page 542]
[Inclosure 1 in No.
32—Translation.]
Count Okuma to Mr.
Swift.
Department for Foreign Affairs,
Tokio, the 22d day, the
7th month, the 22d
year of Meiji, July 22,
1889.
Sir: In reference to the proper employment of
the fund which your excellency’s predecessor received from the United
States Government with an instruction to grant the same to the
inhabitants of Tanegashima, Kagoshima prefecture, in recognition of
their kind and humane treatment of the survivors of the crew of the
American bark Cashmere, lost off the coast of
that island in the year 1885, I had the honor to state to your
predecessor in my note No. 11, of the 25th of March last, that I would
convey to him a definite reply after the matter shall have been referred
to the local authorities for their full consideration.
I am now in receipt of a communication from the government of Kagoshima
prefecture, as set forth in the inclosed translation, and I feel
persuaded that the proposed arrangement is entirely suited to the local
conditions and will not fail to promote the permanent interests of the
locality concerned. I therefore beg to request that if you have no
objection to the proposed arrangement you will take the necessary steps
to transfer the fund to this department.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
32—Translation.]
Governor Watanabe
to Count Okuma.
The 5th day of the
7th month, the 22d year of Meiji (July 5,
1889.)
Sir: In reference to your excellency’s
instructions respecting the proper employment of the fund awarded by the
Government of the United States to the inhabitants of Tanegashima,
Kagoshima prefecture, I already had the honor to acquaint your
excellency in my report No. 184 of the last month with the action I had
taken in the matter. Having subsequently received a report from the
Guncho having jurisdiction over the district, I am now able to submit my
views on the subject.
After having carefully considered the conditions of the locality, I have
arrived at the conclusion that it would be practically impossible to
carry out the scheme to establish a school at a place conveniently
accessible to the children of the two interested villages Isekimura and
Akimura. These villages are distant about three Japanese miles, the road
leading from one to the other is excessively bad, and another village
which has no interest in the fund lies between them. Under the
circumstances I beg leave to submit, that the fund in question should be
equally divided between the two villages, that the amount so divided
should be placed under the control of the chief officer of each village
as a permanent educational fund, by investing it in the government
consolidated bonds, and that only the interest thereof should be used
for the purpose of employing a good teacher, in view of gradually
improving the educational system of the localities. This arrangement
will, I confidently believe, prove satisfactory in securing the high
appreciation of the friendly spirit of the people of the United States
and in strengthening the friendly relations which happily exist between
the two countries.
I beg leave to add that it is intended to provide a memorial or tablet in
the school of each village, inscribing thereon the circumstances under
which the fund has been awarded by the Government of the United
States.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 32.]
Mr. Swift to Count
Okuma.
Legation of the United States,
Tokio, July 23,
1889.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your note of the 22d instant, in reference to the proper
employment of the fund appropriated by the Congress of the United States
as a reward to the inhabitants of the Island of Tanegashima, Japan, for
relief of crew of the American bark Cashmere.
[Page 543]
Your excellency informs me that you are persuaded that the arrangement
proposed by the local authorities of the island, that the fund
appropriated should be equally divided between the two villages, and the
sum so divided be placed under the control of the chief officer of each
village as a permanent educational fund, is entirely suited to the
conditions and will not fail to promote the permanent interests of the
localities concerned.
I have therefore the honor, in compliance with your excellency’s request,
and with a view to carrying out the will of the Government of the United
States, to inclose my draft on Messrs. Brown, Shipley & Co., bankers
for the Department of State, London, for £1,027, 8s. 8d. payable to your excellency’s
order, being the amount ($5,000 at 4.8665) appropriated by Congress, and
for which I beg you will forward your receipt in triplicate in the usual
form for transmission to my Government.
I avail, etc.,
