Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.

No. 69.]

Legation of the United States, Yokohama, July 13, 1868.

Sir: On the 3d instant the foreign representatives held a joint conference with Higashi Knze Chiujio, the minister for foreign affairs, and at his request—his colleague, Hisen Jijin, being then in Yedo.

Higashi opened the conference by informing the representatives that perfect tranquillity now prevailed in Yedo; he had only two days before returned from that city, and felt assured that the representatives, if they so desired, could with perfect safety resume their residences there. Foreign merchants might also come up to Yedo and reside in the quarter set apart for their occupation and engage in business. The safety of the merchants, however, in going about the streets could not well be secured, as the police department was still in the hands of Tokugawa officers. “From this day,” this minister asserted, “the Mikado’s government will be responsible for the safety of the legations and their property, and also for the foreign merchants, provided they will remain in their houses.”

Within a few days the Mikado’s government would take possession of the police department, and the whole city would then be quiet and safe.

He expressed a strong desire that Ne-egata should not be opened at present, as the province of Etshingo, in which it is situated, was the scene of war.

The Prince of Sendai had been declared a rebel, and in the province of Etshingo the Mikado’s government was unable to afford the requisite protection to foreigners. The minister promised to address the representatives on the subject of Ne-egata in writing, and I now transmit inclosure No. 1, copy of his letter.

The question of the sale of lands at Osaka and Hiogo came up for consideration, but was postponed to some future day, the matter not being pressing.

1 should observe here, that when this minister addressed the foreign representatives in regard to Yedo, with the view of inducing them to assent to its opening for trade and residence, he must have been at that moment fully aware of the contemplated attack on Wuyeno temple, as a few hours after that interview his letter transmitting the general orders for the assault, which forms inclosure No. 1 of my dispatch No. 68 of this day, was received, and early on the next morning the attack was actually made as reported in that dispatch.

The opening of Ne-egata was greatly desired by the Italian representative, in the hope that a supply of silk-worm eggs might be obtained there, and in the present disturbed state of affairs in this part of Japan, there is every reason to apprehend that supplies of this extremely valuable article, so urgently needed both in Italy and France, will this year be very limited if not principally cut off. The Prussian chargé d’affaires joined our Italian colleague in insisting upon the temporary opening of that port on the 15th instant, but the other representatives, like myself, did not deem it judicious to join in a measure which seems almost impossible of success not only, but from which, if adopted, complications are not unlikely to arise. There being no Japanese government in any part of this country strong enough to protect our citizens and subjects, the principle of permitting our people to visit only such places or ports where they can be protected by their respective governments, should be adhered to, and it is on this ground that the majority of the representatives based their action.

I am happy to inform you that this difference of opinion has not in the least disturbed the cordial accord among the foreign representatives, with all of whom I remain on perfectly pleasant terms.

I transmit inclosure No. 2, copy of a notification issued by the British minister on this subject.

Foreigners of several nationalities, it appears, have already proceeded to that port, but it is very doubtful whether they will succeed in procuring any silk-ova, and I have not yet heard of there being any Americans, amongst them.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Untitled]

July 7, 1868.

Sir: The date fixed for the opening of the port of Neegata, in Etshingo, has already passed, hut its vicinity is at present the theater of war. A large number of troops have been dispatched thither, but the restoration of tranquillity has not yet been reported. It would be impossible for us to undertake properly the protection of foreigners residing there in its present disturbed condition, and we should feel great anxiety on their account. We wish, therefore, to arrange for the postponement for a short time. The question of the opening of that port is at present the subject of much attention at Kioto, and some persons charged with jurisdiction over the Japanese have already proceeded to Takata, in Etshingo. Military officers have also been-sent thither, and we expect to hear of the success of their operations. Until, however, that takes place, we request that your countrymen will abstain from proceeding to Neegata.

HIGASHI KUZE CHÉNJIO.

His Excellency R. B. Van Valkenburgh, Minister of the United States.

Notification.

The undersigned hereby publishes for general information the accompanying dispatch received from her Majesty’s minister, relative to the state of insecurity still prevailing at the port of Neegata.

LACHLAN FLETCHER, Her Britannic Majesty’s Consul.

British Consulate, Kanagawa, June 25, 1868.

[Untitled]

Yokohama, June 25, 1868.

Sir: I am informed that the consuls of Italy and Prussia at this port have been instructed by the representatives of those powers to make known to the Italian and Prussian subjects that they can proceed, with the approval of the said representatives, to Neegata, to carry on, from the 15th proximo, whatever trade the treaties admit of, under certain risks.

As the knowledge of these instructions may lead to inquiry among British subjects, I have to direct you to apprise the latter that, having been lately officially informed that Neegata is at present the scene of a civil contest between the government of the Mikado and the Daimio Aidzu, I am not yet at liberty to change the opinion I have already expressed in my notification of the 28th March last, as to the insecurity which may be found to prevail at that port.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

HARRY S. PARKES.