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.,
[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.,
[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.,
[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.
