Mr. Buck to Mr.
Hay.
United
States Legation,
Tokio,
Japan, March 7,
1902.
No. 623.]Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt on the 1st instant of instructiona No. 385, of date of January 29 last, respecting
the restoration
[Page 190]
as soon as
practicable of the city of Tientsin and its suburbs to Chinese
authority, and stating that I may make use of the instruction in
ascertaining the views of the Japanese Government in that matter,
concerning which you would be pleased to have my report.
To obtain the views of the Japanese Government, as instructed, on the 3d
instant I addressed a note to his excellency, the minister of foreign
affairs (copy herewith), and to-day I have received his reply (copy
inclosed), stating that the Imperial Government share the views of the
United States Government that the abolition of the provisional
government at Tientsin at an early date is very desirable, without
affecting the question of the presence of foreign detachments for the
maintenance of free communication between Peking and the sea, and that
his Government will make no objection, in event that all the other
powers actually participating agree to it.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Buck to
Baron Komura.
United States Legation,
Tokio, March 3,
1902.
No. 332.]Monsieur le Ministre: Pursuant to
instruction of my Government I have the honor to submit to your
excellency its views, as expressed in the accompanying copy of said
instruction, respecting the restoration of Tientsin and its suburbs
to Chinese authority. Immediate restoration is urged by his
excellency, the Chinese minister at Washington, who, in a note to
the Secretary of State of the United States (copy also inclosed),
has asked the United States’ friendly offices with the Governments
of the other poweis to that end.
That I may, as directed and as soon as practicable, report to my
Government the views of His Majesty’s Government upon this important
matter, I venture to express the desire that I may be informed of
them at as early a date as may suit the convenience of the Imperial
Government.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Baron Komura to
Mr. Buck.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokio, March 6, 1902.
No. 7.]Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of March 3 on the
subject of the restoration of Tientsin and its suburbs to Chinese
administration.
In reply I beg to state that the Imperial Government fully shares the
views of the United States Government that the abolition of the
provisional government at Tientsin at the earliest date is highly
desirable in various respects, without affecting in any way the
question of the presence of the foreign detachments for the purpose
of maintaining free communication between Peking and the sea.
Consequently the Imperial Government will have no objection whatever
to its abolition, provided that all the other powers actually
participating in the provisional government agree to the same.
I avail, etc.,
Baron Komura,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
