Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward
No. 41.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
August 21, 1867.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, No.
1, copy of a letter to J. Stahel, esq, our consul to Kanagawa,
authorizing him to transferto Dr. Vedder,
[Page 54]
of that place, (and who formerly was a surgeon in
the navy,) the ground reserved for the United States hospital purposes,
and on the express condition that possession of this ground may at any
time, if desired, be resumed by the United States.
In view of the suffering that may be relieved and also of the expense
necessarily to be incurred in the erection of suitable hospital
accommodation, I trust you will be pleased to approve of the conditional
transfer of the said ground which can scarcely be said to possess any
marketable value, and that you will authorize me—in case there is no
prospect of a United States marine hospital being erected, and of an
appropriation therefor being made as applied for—to relieve Dr. Vedder
of the embarrassments of the transfer, and to make it unconditionally
for hospital purposes.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Stahel
No. 69.]
Legation of the United States in
Japan,
Yedo,
August 20, 1867.
Sir: As already stated to you there is no
objection on my part to the transfer of the lot on the bluffs at
Yokohama, reserved on behalf of the United States for hospital
purposes, to Dr. Vedder for that specific purpose, and for no other,
provided it be distinctly stipulated in the deed that at any time
hereafter possession of the said lot may be resumed by the United
States on refunding to Dr. Vedder, in such case, the appraised value
of the improvements that may be on the ground at the time of such a
resumption of possession.
Dr. Vedder has, of course, to assume the payment of the ground
rent.
I shall inform the department of my action in this matter, which, in
view of the urgency of establishing hospital accommodation at your
port, I have no doubt will be entirely approved; and I shall at the
same time request that at the earliest possible moment I may be
notified whether there still exists a probability of the ground
referred to being required for the United States, and that in case
of a negative answer to this inquiry I maybe authorized to waive on
behalf of the United States the title to the said ground, by which
Dr. Vedder would be placed in unconditional possession and become
the original grantee.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States in Japan.
J. Stahel, Esq., United States Consul, Kanagawa.
