Mr. Denby to Mr. Gresham.

No. 1960.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a dispatch from the Japanese minister for foreign affairs to Mr. Dun, U. S. minister at Tokyo, explanatory of Japan’s withdrawal from negotiations concerning the exemption of private ships from capture.

I also inclose herewith a copy of another dispatch from the same to the same, in explanation of the refusal of Japan to grant safe conducts to the vessels of the Chinese foreign customs service employed as light-house tenders.

I have, etc.,

Chas. Denby, Jr.,
Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 1960.]

Viscount Mutsu Munemitsu to Mr. Dun.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your excellency’s note of the 15th instant inclosing a further telegram from the U. S. chargé d’affaires at Peking.

I beg to request that your excellency will have the kindness to inform Mr. Denby by wire that the Imperial Government definitely withdraw from the negotiations regarding the proposed exemption of private ships from capture.

[Page 175]

The Imperial Government do not feel called upon to explain to the Chinese Government the reasons underlying their resolution, but the courteous action of your excellency and Mr. Denby makes them especially anxious that you should not remain in ignorance of the actual grounds upon which their determination rests.

The position in which Mr. Denby’s last telegram placed the question left, in the estimation of the Imperial Government, no room for hope that a satisfactory accommodation on the subject was possible, and a no less serious obstacle to the conclusion of an arrangement is the fact, which has but recently come to the knowledge of the Imperial Government, that the Chinese Government is still holding the vessel, the alleged unconditional release of which was advanced as the pretext for the proposed general understanding.

Thanking your excellency for your courtesy in this matter, and requesting you to convey to Mr. Denby the expression of my high appreciation of his kindness, I beg to renew, etc.,

Mutsu Munemitsu,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 1960.]

Viscount Mutsu Munemitsu to Mr. Bun.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 18th instant, communicating the copy of a telegram from the U. S. chargé d’affaires at Peking.

While the Imperial Government are disposed to do everything in their power to protect neutral commerce, they do not think they can reasonably be expected, in the direction indicated, to relax to any extent their belligerent rights, since it would be impossible for them to secure any satisfactory guarantee that the vessels in question might not be employed in conveying contraband of war. Besides, by having recourse to the expedient of extinguishing established lights along her coast, China has clearly deprived herself of the right, even if her motives were wholly disinterested, to ask Japan’s indulgence in the matter of Chinese light-house tenders.

I beg, therefore, to ask your excellency to have the kindness to inform Mr. Denby that the Imperial Government can not grant the request preferred through the inspector-general of the Chinese customs.

I avail, etc.,

Mutsu Munemitsu,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.