Mr. Buck to Mr. Hay.

No. 453.]

Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 444 of the 27th ultimo, concerning the income tax sought to be levied by the Japanese tax officials at Yokohama on the incomes of the surgeon in charge of the United States naval hospital at Yokohama and the other officers and the enlisted men on duty there, I now have the honor to report that I [Page 766] have been waited upon by an official of the treasury department who stated that, as a result of my representation through the foreign office, it has been decided not to press the matter of the return of incomes of the officers and men of the hospital and the payment of such tax; that while they were disposed to let the matter drop they aid not care to announce their decision publicly, and asked that I would consent to let the matter rest as it is with their explanation, without a formal repty to my note to the minister of foreign affairs.

I assured the officer that the result was the important thing, and if the return of incomes and levy of the tax was not to be insisted upon, I would accept his statement without a formal note from the minister for foreign affairs.

I now consider the matter settled satisfactorily.

I have, etc.,

A. E. Buck.