Mr. Buck to Mr. Hay.

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.,

A. E. Buck.
[Inclosure 1.]

Mr. Buck to Baron Komura.

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.,

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

Baron Komura to Mr. Buck.

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.
  1. See No. 976 to France, printed, p. 185.