No. 430.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation, Japan,
Tokei, April 24, 1874.
(Received May 26.)
No. 78.]
Sir: Since writing my dispatch No. 76, of date the
22d instant, in relation to the expedition to Formosa, I have received the
reply of the minister for foreign affairs to my communication to him on the
same subject, dated the 19th instant, which reply, and my answer thereto,
are herewith inclosed, (inclosures 1 and 2.) It is a pleasure to make
mention of the prompt compliance of the Japanese government with my demand,
that neither the American ship New York nor the American citizens in the
employment of the Japanese government should be permitted to proceed with
the proposed armed expedition to Formosa without the written consent of
China to the expedition. You will notice that this government has sent
orders forward to detach the New York and the citizens of the United States
from the expedition, which orders, I am assured, will reach Nagasaki before
the expedition proceeds farther. I am of the opinion that the expedition
will be abandoned, but in case China should expressly consent in writing
that the high commissioner of Japan, under the protection of an armed force,
may proceed to Formosa to obtain from the aborigines some security against
any future outrages upon Japanese seamen wrecked upon that coast, I do not
see that I have any authority to forbid the employment, for such purposes,
of American citizens, inasmuch as such service would not be a making of war
upon a power with which the United States are at peace, nor indeed upon any
power.
I respectfully desire full instructions upon the subject, and beg leave to
again express the hope that my action thus far may meet your approval.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
78.—Translation.]
Mr. Terashima to
Mr. Bingham.
The 22d of 4th month of 7th year of Meiji.
No. 26.]
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s dispatch, No. 33, of the
19th April, 1874, informing me of your non-approval of the proceeding to
Formosa of three American citizens, to wit, General Le Gendre,
Lieutenant-Commander Cassell, and Mr. Wasson, for the present affair,
who were engaged in the service of the Japanese government, and of the
employment of the United States vessel New York as transport in the same
service.
In reply, I beg leave to say that, in compliance with your request,
instructions for the detachment of the above-named citizens and vessel
have already been forwarded to the proper authorities, and that the
necessary steps have also been taken to transmit with dispatch your
letters addressed to those gentlemen.
With respect, &c.,
TERASHIMA MUNENORI,
His Imperial
Japanese Majesty’s Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
[Page 682]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 78.]
Mr. Bingham to Mr.
Terashima.
United
States Legation, Japan,
Tokei, April 23,
1874.
No. 26.]
Your Excellency: It gives me pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s dispatch, No. 26, dated 22d
instant, in reply to my dispatch of the 19th instant, in relation to the
proposed expedition by the government of Japan to Formosa.
Your excellency’s government has my thanks for so promptly recognizing
the rights of the United States, and ordering that neither the American
ship New York nor the American citizens named in my dispatch shall
proceed with the armed expedition to Formosa, but shall be detached from
that service.
I beg leave to add that, while it is not the desire of my government to
interfere in the relations of Japan with other powers, the law of the
United States declares that the citizens thereof shall not enlist in the
military or naval service of any foreign power to make, war upon any
power with which the United States is at peace.
I have every assurance that your excellency’s government will take care
that this provision of American law shall be respected by all persons in
the service of your excellency’s government.
I am, &c.,
