Mr. Griscom to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Tokyo, December 31,
1903.
No. 33.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the report of
the American vice-consul at Daitotei to the Department of the 23d
November, in relation to the wreck of the American ship Benjamin Sewall off the Formosan coast and to the
cruelty of the natives to members of the crew who reached Botel Tobago
Island.
In view of the statement of our consul that he deemed the “censure” of
the Formosan government to be inadequate to prevent future outrages of a
similar nature, I addressed to the minister for foreign affairs a note,
a copy of which is inclosed herewith, with a view to bringing about a
thorough investigation of the incident by the Japanese Government and
the punishment of the offenders.
A copy of the minister’s reply, informing me that an investigation will
be made, is also inclosed herewith.
I have, etc.,
[Page 443]
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Griscom to
Baron Komura.
American Legation,
Tokyo, December 17,
1903.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to call the
attention of your excellency to certain events which recently
occurred on Botel Tobago Island, near the coast of Formosa.
The Benjamin Bewail, an American wooden ship
of some 1,300 tons burden, was wrecked in a typhoon on October 4
last and was abandoned on October 5, the crew leaving her in boats.
One of the boats reached the island of Formosa in safety with all
its occupants alive and well; the other unfortunately reached Botel
Tobago Island, and while the crew were seeking a convenient place to
land natives came out from the shore in numbers, and after robbing
the boat and its occupants deliberately hacked holes in it with
their knives, pulled out the bottom plug, and when the boat was half
full of water upset its crew into the sea, with the result that
seven persons were drowned. Three American citizens and a Japanese
woman, the wife of the third mate, an American, were among the
drowned. Thanks to the efforts of the government of Formosa, the
survivors reached the island of Formosa in safety. To Doctor Goto
and the civil administration of Formosa the gratitude of the
survivors and of my Government is due for their prompt efforts to
discover and rescue the shipwrecked sailors and the subsequent
assistance so kindly rendered them. The United States consul at
Tamsui expressed his appreciation in a letter addressed directly to
Doctor Goto.
Another aspect of the unfortunate incident was brought to the
attention of Doctor Goto by the American consul in a letter of the
7th ultimo, wherein the hope was expressed that in the event of any
other unfortunates being cast up on Botel Tobago the natives would
treat them with more hospitality than they have hitherto shown. In
Doctor Goto’s reply to the above letter he states that “this
government have efficiently and strictly censured them (the Botel
Tobago islanders), and will warn them not to repeat such misconduct
again in future.” The consul now reports to me that “with all due
respect to the Formosan government, I do not consider that severe
and sufficient ‘censure’ will be a sufficient deterrent to the said
natives from repeating the offense should occasion arise.”
I have the honor to bring the matter to the knowledge of your
excellency with a view to submitting to the high sense of justice of
the Imperial Government the question as to whether a censure,
however efficient and strict, is an adequate punishment for the
murder of seven shipwrecked sailors. This is the second American
vessel which has been wrecked on Botel Tobago Island within a year,
and the matter is therefore one of considerable interest to American
mariners. It is hoped that upon investigation it will be found
necessary and advisable to administer to these islanders some
punishment suited to their wild and savage condition.
I take advantage of this opportunity to renew, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Baron Komura to
Mr. Griscom.
Tokyo, December 29,
1903.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch dated the 17th instant,
calling the attention of the Imperial Government to the alleged
outrages perpetrated by the natives of Botel Tobago Island, near
Formosa, against the refugees of the American wrecked ship Benjamin Sewall.
I beg to say in reply, that I have lost no time in referring the
matter to the Formosan government, and I shall not fail to
communicate again with your excellency so soon as I shall be in
receipt of the answer from the said government.
I avail, etc.,
