Mr. Swift to Mr. Blaine.

No. 129.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a communication just received from Viscount Aoki, His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s minister of state for foreign affairs, dated the 5th instant, bearing upon the pending disagreement between the two Governments on the question of the excise and license taxes collected upon the article of American production known as “Scott’s Emulsion.”

In my last dispatch upon the subject, which was my No. 120, dated the 20th of May, I had the honor to inform you that, acting in obedience to your instruction of the 18th of March, your No. 59, I had notified the Imperial Government of the decision you had rendered upon the point in dispute by sending them a copy of it; but that in doing so I had, for reasons therein given, added no remark, comment, nor suggestion of action. I at the same time gave you my reasons for thinking that they would in due time acquiesce in your construction of the treaties in the “Scott’s Emulsion” matter by quietly rescinding the order exacting the imposts.

[Page 604]

In removing the discussion from Tokio to Washington, as appears to be the purpose of His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Government, I trust a speedy and satisfactory conclusion may be arrived at. In the mean-time I have the honor to await your further instructions.

I have, etc.,

John F. Swift.
[Inclosure in No. 129.—Translation.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s note of the 28th of April last, inclosing, by instruction, the copy of a dispatch from the honorable the Secretary of State of the United States, in continuation of the subject of the right of His Imperial Majesty’s Government, under existing laws, to impose license fees and internal taxes in respect of an imported American medical preparation known as “Scott’s Emulsion.”

I find it impossible, after an attentive consideration of the observations contained in that dispatch, to share entirely the conclusions therein expressed. I have consequently, in the usual course, instructed His Imperial Majesty’s chargé d’affaires at Washington to communicate the further views of the Imperial Government on the subject to the honorable the Secretary of State.

I avail, etc.,

Viscount Suizo Aoki,
His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.