Mr. R. B. Van Valkenburgh to
Mr. Seward.
No. 84]
Legation of the United States,
Yokohama,
August 19, 1868.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith No.
1, copy of a letter received by me from Higashi Kuze Chinjio, minister
of foreign affairs, informing me of his desire to revise the duty on tea
and silk, as provided in the second clause of the second article of the
convention of Yedo.
I transmit No. 2, copy of my reply.
Together with my colleagues, I am now engaged in collecting information
from our respective merchants, so as to fully prepare ourselves to take
this matter into consideration.
As far as I am able to judge, I feel confident that such a revision is
not demanded by our interests. The Japanese authorities will most
probably desire an increase of the duty on these important staple
articles. The merchants, on the other hand, will not only object to this
but may possibly desire that the duties shall be still further lowered.
With the duty on silk, (raw,) American interests have no such immediate
concern as with tea, which is principally exported to the United
States.
The export duty on this article is at present three and a half boos on
one hundred caddies, or one hundred and thirty-three English pounds, and
at the most unfavorable rate of Mexican dollars, it scarcely exceeds one
cent per pound.
As soon as I shall have arrived at a result with my colleagues on the
subject, I shall not fail to submit it to you for such instructions as
you shall deem necessary.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
29th Day, 6th Month, 4th Year,
Keiow,
(August 17,
1868.)
I have the honor to call your excellency’s attention to Article II of
the convention concluded on the 25th June, 1866:
“Two years, however, after the signing of the present convention, any
of the contracting parties, on giving six months’ notice to the
others, may claim a readjustment of the duties on tea and silk on
the basis of five per cent. on the average value of these articles
during the three years last preceding.”
The said period of two years having expired, I beg to request you to
meet with the representatives of treaty powers about the
readjustment of the duties on tea and silk.
[Page 805]
I shall therefore be obliged if your excellency will inform me of the
date of this meeting, after agreement with your excellency’s
colleagues.
With respect and consideration,
His Excellency R. B. Van Vankenburgh,
Minister Resident of United States of
America in Japan.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United States in
Japan, Yokohama,
August 18, 1868.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s
letter of yesterday, giving notice that in six months from that date
you desire to meet the representatives of the treaty powers for the
purpose of consulting in regard to the readjustment of the duties on
tea and silk, pursuant to the provisions of Article II of the
convention concluded on the 25th June, 1866.
During the time which will intervene, I shall endeavor to procure
such information in regard to the question, and instructions from my
government, as will enable me to confer with you upon this subject.
With respect and esteem,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States in Japan.
His Excellency Higashi Kuze
Chinjio.
