Chargé Wilson to the Secretary of State.

No. 423.]

Sir: In acknowledging the receipt of your telegram received the 22d ultimo, which is confirmed on the overleaf, and in which I am directed to express the condolences of the President and American people for the recent earthquake calamity in Formosa, I have the honor to report that on the day of its receipt I addressed a note conveying the sense of the instruction to the minister for foreign affairs.

On the 30th ultimo I received the reply of the Marquis Saionji, wherein is returned through him the Emperor’s cordial expression of thanks to the President.

I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of this exchange of notes.

I have, etc.,

Huntington Wilson.
[Inclosure 1.]

Chargé Wilson to the Minister for Foreign Affairs .

Monsieur le Ministre: I am directed by telegraph to convey through your excellency to His Majesty the Emperor, and at the same time to your excellency’s Government, the profound sorrow and sympathy of the President and of the American people at the awful calamity by earthquake which has recently occurred in Formosa.

In communicating these expressions to your excellency’s Government and requesting you to transmit them to their high destination, I embrace, etc.,

Huntington Wilson.
[Inclosure 2.—Translation.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Chargé Wilson .

Sir: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note, No, 220, of the 22d instant, in which you were good enough, under telegraphic instructions, to convey to His Majesty the Emperor, as well as to our Government, the profound sorrow and sympathy of the President of the United States and of the American [Page 1064] people at the calamity caused by the earthquake which recently occurred in Taiwan.

I have to state in reply that upon my immediate submission of the message to its high destination, His Majesty has highly appreciated the courtesy and commanded me to return through you His Majesty’s cordial expression of thanks to the President of the United States.

Accept, sir, etc.,

Marquis Saionji.