Chargé Wilson to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Tokyo
,
January 18,
1906
.
No. 372.]
Sir: When I had the honor to report to you on
November 22 the results of this legation’s efforts to gain permission
for Americans to investigate their properties temporarily abandoned at
Port Arthur and Dalny at the outbreak of the war, there was ample ground
for the expectation that the interested parties would be allowed to
visit those places early in December.
[Page 1076]
At an interview which I had at that time with the vice-minister for war,
he implied that an occasional traveler might be permitted to visit Port
Arthur, but that the confusion there was still too great to admit of the
coming of business men to look after their affairs. General Ishimoto
finally gave permission, under date of November 25, for Mr. Dunn, the
agent of the American Trading Company, to visit Port Arthur from
December 1, but only in the quality of an ordinary traveler. In granting
this permit the war office stipulated that no others of the sort would
be allowed. Mr. Dunn’s name was selected by me for the reason that his
company’s application was the one filed earliest at the legation. While
the permit did not carry with it facilities for investigation, yet the
opportunity for their agent at least to look over the ground was much
valued by the American Trading Company.
Since the beginning of December the legation has frequently inquired as
to when the Americans interested might proceed to Port Arthur, but on
each occasion the date has been postponed, and the need of time for
making regulations and arrangements has been put forward. On the 21st
ultimo I represented the whole matter to Count Katsura, premier and
acting minister for foreign affairs, with similar results. The same day
I received an informal letter from the ministry of war asking for still
more time, and wherein it was stated that a committee to take charge of
the abandoned properties was about to be formed under the commanding
general of the occupied districts, and that the owners of property would
be allowed to go to Port Arthur before long.
No change having taken place in the situation, I verbally brought the
matter to the attention of Mr. Kato on the 11th instant, and on the 13th
instant addressed to his excellency a note on the subject, wherein the
desired permits were specifically requested for Messrs. Nielson
(representing Clarkson & Co.), Friede, and Toritch. I have the honor
to inclose a copy of the above-mentioned note. Accompanying it will be
found an informal memorandum of the communications on the question under
discussion which passed between the legation and different officials of
the Japanese Government during the past half year.
On the 17th instant I received an informal note from the minister for
foreign affairs, a copy of which is herewith, whereby I was informed
that it had been decided to give permission to visit Port Arthur and
Dalny and that the restrictions would shortly be removed. The following
morning I called at the foreign office and obtained these particulars:
The military commander of the Kwantung would issue the new regulations
in a day or two; he would then telegraph the war department, who would
thereupon be ready to grant the long-sought permits, upon application
made through the foreign office. The official whom I saw was of opinion
that the permits would now be available within four days, and I am happy
to be able to report that I am quite confident that the Americans
interested may go to Port Arthur and Dalny next week.
I have, etc.,
[Page 1077]
[Inclosure No. 1.]
Chargé Wilson
to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs
.
American Legation,
Tokyo
,
January 13,
1906
.
No. 204.]
Monsieur le Ministre: I have the honor to
request that at the earliest possible convenience of the Imperial
Japanese Government permission may be granted Mr. C. Nielson,
representing the American firm of Clarkson & Co., Mr. M. S.
Friede, and Mr. W. Toritch, American merchants, to visit Port Arthur
and Dalny for the purpose of personally examining their properties
left at those places at the outbreak of the war.
As I had the honor to point out to your excellency day before
yesterday, there is great danger that by every day’s postponement of
such permission these gentlemen will be placed in a less favorable
position for the ultimate recovery of their property or its value.
Moreover, it is evident that they are suffering injury by being
deprived during so long a time of the use of their property and by
the tying up of their affairs in an indeterminate state which they
are prevented from investigating. It will thus be seen that very
considerable damage is being done American merchants.
It is beyond doubt that at the present extremely late date no plea of
military necessity would be seriously advanced as a reason for
further withholding the permission sought, and I most respectfully
express to your excellency my disappointment that consideration for
the American property rights involved should seem to weigh so
lightly in the scale against what can now, so far as I know, be no
more than the bare convenience of routine arrangements by the
military authorities—arrangements for the completion of which many
months have already been available.
So long ago as November 21, General Ishimoto, vice-minister for war,
answered my inquiries by asking that we wait a little longer—about
two weeks longer he thought. Naturally, much importance was attached
by this legation to an estimate emanating from such a quarter, and
my Government, as well as the interested parties, was accordingly
given to understand that permission to visit Port Arthur might be
expected early in the month of December. Inevitably, the long
additional delay has caused surprise and disappointment.
I am informed that the continued delay is due to a change in the
arrangements decided upon by the ministry of war. It is difficult,
however, for a civilian to understand what embarrassment could
result if a few men, whose material interests are at stake, were
allowed to go into Port Arthur before the perfection of the last
details of such arrangements.
In order that your excellency may see how continuously and since how
many months this legation has been seeking the permission in
question, and how much patience has been necessary on the part of
those interested, I beg leave to hand you herewith an informal
memorandum summarizing the communications between officials of your
excellency’s Government and this legation during the past half year.
The earlier correspondence in regard to American property at Port
Arthur was recapitulated in the legation’s memorandum dated July
15.
If your excellency will permit me to repeat what I had the honor to
say to you on the 11th instant, let me once more earnestly request
that your excellency spare no effort to have the desired permits for
the above-mentioned gentlemen to visit Port Arthur and Dalny issued
with the least possible delay.
I embrace this opportunity to renew to your excellency, etc.
[Subinclosure.]
memorandum in relation to the property of
certain american citizens at port arthur.
August 3, 1905.—Mr. Griscom called upon Mr.
Chinda and handed him a memorandum summarizing the correspondence
between this legation and the minister for foreign affairs in
relation to the protection of the property of American citizens at
Port Arthur and their desire to visit the city to look into the
condition of their affairs. Mr. Chinda promised that he would take
up the question with the military authorities.
[Page 1078]
October 5, 1905.—Mr. Griscom asked Mr. Chinda
if it were then permissible for Americans owning property at Port
Arthur to go there. Mr. Chinda said the military authorities still
objected, and suggested that the question be deferred until after
the ratification of the treaty of peace, when he would take it up
with the military authorities.
October 24, 1905.—Mr. Griscom spoke again on
the subject to Mr. Chinda, who replied that the foreign office could
see no objection to the merchant’s entering Port Arthur, but that
the military authorities still refused permission. He added that the
matter would be brought up again to see if the military authorities
could not be induced to change their views.
November 1, 1905.—Mr. Griscom again asked
permission for Americans owning property at Port Arthur to go there
to investigate. Mr. Chinda said that the military authorities still
objected. Mr. Griscom said that he could see no possible ground for
objection in time of peace. Mr. Griscom mentioned that there was a
great deal of property at stake and hoped that permission would be
granted at the earliest possible moment. Mr. Chinda promised to take
the matter up with the military authorities and let Mr. Griscom know
the result.
November 3, 1905.—General Ishimoto and General
Murata intimated to Mr. Wilson that permission might be given to
American travelers to visit Dalny and Port Arthur.
November 21, 1905.—Mr. Wiison called upon
General Ishimoto and reminded him of the above matter, asking that
permission be given the three or four Americans chiefly interested
to investigate the condition of their properties. General Ishimoto
said that travelers for curiosity’s sake would be permitted to go,
but begged Mr. Wilson to wait a little longer as to the merchants,
saying, in effect, that the military authorities were preparing
regulations, etc., and that after “two weeks or so” matters would be
in such condition as to permit the entry of merchants. Mr. Wilson
suggested that the merchants might be permitted to go there at once
as tourists in order to be on the ground at the moment of the
removal of restrictions, since the two weeks to elapse before their
removal would be consumed in transmitting the news of such
permission to the merchants and their transit to Port Arthur.
November 24, 1905.—Mr. Laughlin called on
Major Yoshida in regard to the desire of certain American travelers
to visit Port Arthur and Dalny and reminded him of General
Ishimoto’s intimation to Mr. Wilson that arrangements for
unrestricted travel would be completed in about two weeks from
November 21. Major Yoshida said that the permission requested
November 21 for Mr. W. E. Dunn to visit Port Arthur and Dalny would
be granted and that “in a very short time” travel would be generally
unrestricted.
November 25, 1905.—Mr. Wilson spoke to Mr.
Ishii and Mr. Matsui at the foreign office on this question, telling
them of General Ishimoto’s assurance that American business men
having property at Port Arthur or Dalny would be able to visit those
places in about two weeks from November 21. Mr. Matsui said he had
been present at the recent meeting of war office general staff and
Port Arthur officers, when it had been agreed upon that foreign
merchants were to be allowed to enter those ports. It remained for
the completed arrangements to be approved, but it was implied that
the delay would not be long.
December 11, 1905.—Mr. Wilson saw Mr. Chinda,
who promised to give directions for a communication on the subject
to the war office.
December 14, 1905.—Mr. Wilson saw Mr. Matsui,
who promised that the war office should be again urged on the
subject.
December 19, 1905.—Mr. Wilson saw Major
Yoshida at the war office. He promised to communicate his remarks to
General Terauchi and General Ishimoto, who were absent, and to let
him know the results.
December 21, 1905.—Mr. Wilson had an interview
with Count Katsura, who promised to speak about the matter to
General Terauchi and have Mr. Chinda give an answer.
December 21, 1905.—Major Yoshida replied in
writing to Mr. Wilson’s representations made on December 19, to the
effect that the towners of property at Port Arthur would be allowed
to go there before long.
January 11, 1906.—Mr. Wilson requested his
excellency Mr. Kato kindly to bring this subject again to the
attention of the military authorities.
[Page 1079]
[Inclosure No.
2.—Translation.]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Chargé Wilson
.
Tokyo
,
January 17,
1906
.
Sir: Referring to the applications for the
permission to visit Port Arthur, Dalny, etc., by the foreigners who
left their private properties in those places, or by their
representatives, for the purpose of settling or carrying them away,
we have hitherto not granted any application for military and other
reasons. The restriction is, however, shortly to be removed, and it
has been unofficially decided to give permission to visit those
places. I write in haste this note to your excellency, as I am
informed by the authorities concerned that the department of war is
soon to give notice to that effect.
I have, etc.,
Kato,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
