Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward
Sir: Count De la Toure, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Italian government; Kint de Rosenbeck, representative of the Belgian government, who is charged specially with the exchange of the ratification of the treaty between his government and the Tycoon; and M. de Brandt, representative of the Prussian government, have recently arrived in Japan, making quite an addition to the number of my colleagues.
I have called upon them, and, so far, there is perfect cordiality and unanimity existing among us.
Upon consultations in regard to the opening of the city of Yedo, under the treaty, “for the purposes of trade,” we have selected a site for the foreign settlement at the mouth of the Sumedegawa river, which enters the bay of Yedo near the centre of the city. The place selected is close to the business part of the city and is located directly upon the water, which, however, is very shallow for a long distance out into the bay. Large ships cannot approach the shore nearer than about two miles. The agreement with the Japanese government has not yet been perfected, but they have assented to the location, designated the grounds within which foreigners can rent land and houses under the treaty, and have further agreed to build a large two-story hotel, to be conducted on the European plan, to contain about sixty rooms, costing about sixty thousand dollars, for the especial use and benefit of foreigners. They have also employed an American architect to make the plans and superintend the building, and send to San Francisco, per Colorado, this month for the furniture.
I trust all will be ready by the first of January. Unless otherwise instructed, believing it to be not only for the interests of the American, but also of the Japanese government, I shall insist upon the terms of the treaty, admitting no one to Yedo except for the purposes of trade. This I believe to mean trade for export or import from the country, and does not include the retailing of liquors, the erection of grog-shops, or a general influx of sailors, visitors, or vagabonds.
Were such persons to be freely admitted at this time to Yedo, there would be no end of casualties and consequent troubles both to foreign and to the Japanese governments.
As soon as the agreement shall have been signed between the foreign representatives and the Japanese government relative to the opening of Yedo, I shall forward a copy to the department; and in the mean time I send a small map of Yedo, enclosure No. 1, with the portion designated for the foreign settlement and hotel marked.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.