Mr. Day to Mr. Buck.
Washington, August 15, 1898.
Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch, No. 166, of the 15th ultimo, transmitting a memorial of American citizens at Kobe, addressed to the President; a copy of a joint letter to the President from the chairman of the American Memorial Committee and the secretary of the International Memorial Committee of Kobe; a copy of a report made to the chairman of the International Committee by the medical director of the International Hospital of Kobe relative to a visit of inspection made by him to the Hiogo Prefectural Prison; together with a copy of a joint letter to you from the president and secretary of the committee above named, accompanied by a copy of a letter of transmittal from Samuel S. Lyon, our consul at Kobe.
These papers relate to matters of complaint touching land tenure in Japan; the existence of foreign newspapers under the revised treaty, soon to go into effect; the conduct of the legal authorities under the code of criminal procedure as to the bail of prisoners; and the condidition of Japanese prisons and the hardship and distress that will be incident to foreigners confined therein; and ask that influence be brought [Page 464] to bear by this Government to obtain such changes in the revised treaty as will correct the evils existing and those to be apprehended after the treaty goes into operation.
The papers transmitted have been carefully read, as also your observations thereon, which the Department approves, and which form a complete reply to the memorialists. The last paragraph of your dispatch covers the matter pretty thoroughly, which may be summed up in the words “Give the treaty a trial.”
Respectfully, yours,