Mr. Buck to Mr.
Hay.
United
States Legation,
Tokyo, March 26,
1902.
No. 629.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm the two
telegraphic instructions of dates of the 19th and 24th instant.
On receipt of the telegram of the 19th instant I communicated by note to
the Japanese Government the desire of the United States Government, as
directed (copy herewith). On yesterday I received a reply (copy
herewith), and, some hours later, your telegram was received.
* * * * * * *
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Buck to
Baron Komura.
United States Legation,
Tokyo, March 22,
1902.
Monsieur le Ministre: In compliance with
telegraphic instructions from my Government, I have the honor to
inform your excellency that His Imperial Majesty’s Government having
given the assurance that citizens of the United States in Japan will
receive equality of treatment with the nationals of other states in
the matter of house tax, the United States Government would like to
agree, by an exchange of notes with the Imperial Government, that
the two Governments will abide by the decision of the principle
involved which may be settled by arbitration between Japan and the
other states, touching both the house and income tax, and that the
Imperial Government will apply the principle of equality to
nationals of the United States, France, Germany, and Great
Britain.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Baron Komura to
Mr. Buck.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokyo, March 25, 1902.
No. 11.]
Monsieur le Ministre: In reply to the note
which your excellency did me the honor to address to me under date
of the 22d instant respecting arbitration, I beg to say that the
Imperial Government would be willing to agree by an exchange of
notes with the Government of the United States, that the two
governments will abide by the decision of the principle involved,
which may be settled by arbitration between Japan and any other
power touching the house tax, and that the Imperial Government [Page 709] will apply the principle
to citizens of the United States equally with the subjects and
citizens of Germany, France, and Great Britain.
But, I should point out that, as the contemplated arbitration is
restricted to the single issue of the house tax, the Imperial
Government would wish to exclude from the notes which it is proposed
to exchange, any reference to the income tax. I may add in further
explanation of this point that France was the only power to raise
the question of the income tax, and that she has now accepted the
principle of arbitration limited to the single question of the house
tax.
I avail, etc.,
Baron Komura Jutaro,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
