Mr. Portman to Mr. Seward
No. 44.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
July 24, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit, No. 1, copy
of a letter addressed by me to the Japanese government on the subject of
an embassy which recently left for Europe.
[Page 254]
Up to this date no reply has been received by me to that letter, and I
have no doubt that the delay in giving me the information desired is
owing to some secret agreement entered into some months ago with the
representative of a treaty power in this country.
Although no engagement, either secret or otherwise, made on behalf of the
Japanese government by this embassy with any European power, could in
the slightest degree be binding on the United States, yet it might
ultimately prove of an embarrassing influence.
I feel confident that at an early day I shall succeed in procuring a
satisfactory reply to my letter from the Japanese government.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
A.L C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim
in Japan.
Hon. William H. Seward, &c, &c., &c.
No. 1.
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
July 8, 1865.
I have to request your excellency to communicate to me the rank and
names of the officers composing your embassy, which left by last
mail steamer for Europe, and to inform me of the object of their
mission.
Your embassy which left for Europe in 186*2 concluded a secret
convention with the governments of Great Britain and France, which
was shown me by Colonel Neale, then her Britannic Majesty’s chargé
d’ affaires, and the embassy which left subsequently concluded a
convention in Paris, which latter convention was disapproved by his
Majesty the Tycoon. In neither of these cases was any notice
whatever given to the minister of the United States. In the most
friendly manner I now beg to submit that it is difficult to
reconcile the conclusion of such conventions with a fair
interpretation of the most-favored-nation clause, as contained in
article 9 of the treaty concluded with Commodore Perry at Kanagawa
on the 31st of March, 1854.
The President is animated with a most cordial friendship towards his
Majesty the Tycoon and his government, which friendship, I am sure,
is as cordially reciprocated, and I have therefore no doubt that
your excellency will furnish me at an early day with the information
desired,
With respect and esteem,
A. L. C. PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires of
the United States in Japan.
His Excellency Midluno Idsumi No Kami,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, &c, &c,
&c.
