Office of the Historian

Mr. Buck to Mr. Hay.

United States Legation,
Tokyo, December 11, 1899.
No. 386.]

Sir: Referring to your telegraphic instruction of September 7 last, in respect to the desirability of establishing cable communication between the United States and Japan under American control, directing that, if I could discreetly ascertain that the Japanese Government was well disposed to a distinctively American cable, I might represent that it would be agreeable to the United States should the Pacific Cable Company of New York be authorized to establish such communication between the two countries, I have the honor to state that, on learning the favorable attitude of the Japanese Government from the minister of foreign affairs, upon his suggestion, I addressed a note to him upon the subject (copy inclosed), to which a reply has now been received (copy inclosed).

Before replying to my note, the minister, in a personal interview, informed me of the conclusion of the Government, which was that the cabinet had accepted and approved in principle the proposition submitted, which, as I have been unofficially informed, was prepared by the director-general of telegraphs, and by him, through the minister of communications, presented to the cabinet.

I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the proposition which has been furnished me.

I have, etc.,

A. E. Buck.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Buck to Viscount Aoki.

Legation of the United States,
Tokyo, September 19, 1899.

Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that I am in receipt of telegraphic instructions from my Government concerning the desirability of creating direct telegraphic union of the Japanese Empire with the United States under American auspices, and that I am authorized to communicate to your excellency the fact that it will be agreeable to the United States if the Pacific Cable Company of New York be authorized to establish cable communications between the two countries.

In view of the interests involved, I entertain the hope that your excellency’s Government may give consideration to the above suggestion, and that the Pacific Cable Company of New York may present such considerations in respect to [Page 483] commercial benefits to the Empire to be derived from the establishment of their line of cable as will justify favorable action of the Imperial Government.

I avail myself, etc.,

A. E. Buck.
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]

Viscount Aoki to Mr. Buck.

Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokyo, the 8th day, the 12th month,
the 82 year of Meiji (December 8, 1899).

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 19th September, in which, under telegraphic instructions from your Government, you called the attention of the Imperial Government to the desirability of creating direct telegraphic union between our two countries, and expressed the hope that the Pacific Cable Company of New York might be authorized to establish such communications.

I beg to say in reply that the Imperial Government fully recognizes the utility of establishing the proposed telegraphic cable, and they will be prepared, when the charter shall have been granted to the company by the United States Government and all the necessary preparations for the project shall have also been completed, to open negotiations with the said company and consider how far they may afford facilities to the enterprise.

I avail myself, etc.,

Viscount Aoki Siuzo.
[Inclosure 3—Translation.]

conditions to be proposed for the laying and working of a submarine telegraph cable between the united states and japan.

1.
The submarine telegraph cable to be laid from the coast of the United States of America to the coast of Japan shall be established in a proper and efficient working order within five years from and after the date of the concession granted the Pacific Cable Company of New York by the Japanese Government. If the company shall fail to construct the said cable within the said period of five years the rights and privileges secured by the company to construct and operate the cable shall be null and void.
2.
The Japanese Government shall, from and after the efficient completion of the said cable, grant the company an annual subsidy of 150,000 yen during a term of twenty years. Provided, however, that the said amount of 150,000 yen shall cover the charges for the Japanese Government telegrams to be forwarded over the said cable (exclusive of out payments).
3.
The rate to be charged for private telegrams over the said cable owned and operated by the company shall not exceed 2 yen per word, and the rate per word for Japanese telegrams shall be half the amount collected from the general public for ordinary telegrams.
4.
During the said term of twenty years from and after the completion of the said cable the Japanese Government may not authorize any undertakers to construct and lay a further submarine telegraph cable across the Pacific between the continents of America and Japan, with or without any intermediate station at any place or island in the Pacific.

The Japanese Government reserve, however, the right to grant a concession, if they should deem it important, to establish and work another submarine telegraph cable to any undertakers who may hereafter project to link Japan with any of the American continents under conditions which the Government may judge just and reasonable, provided, nevertheless, that in such case the Government shall first approach the company to undertake the establishment of such cable under the same conditions as have been tendered by the undertakers of the Government. If the company shall decline to accept the offer, the Government shall then be at liberty to grant the concessions to the undertakers who may be willing to promote such undertaking.

Other conditions to be mutually determined and agreed upon.