Office of the Historian

No. 436.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.

United States Legation, Japan,
Tokei, June 17, 1874. (Received July 21.)
No. 94.]

Sir: In my No. 84, of date the 20th ultimo, I informed you that on the 4th ultimo I received from Sir Harry S. Parkes a note to the effect that he held a further installment of $5,833.33 of the special compensation due the United States from the Simonoseki indemnity. Since that time I have received your instruction No. 35, directing me to receive from Sir Harry Parkes a like sum reported in my No. 57, of date February 23, and to remit the same by bill to Messrs. Morton, Rose & Co., in London, to be passed to the credit of the United States.

Inasmuch as your instruction substantially authorizes me to receive all the unpaid balance of the Simonoseki indemnity and remit the same in like manner, I have obtained a bill for the two several amounts paid to me by Sir Harry Parkes of $5,833.33, each, for the gross sum of £2,479 3s. 4d., drawn by the Oriental Banking Corporation at Yokohama, on the Bank of England to my order, which I have this day remitted, [Page 687] indorsed to the order of Messrs Morton, Rose & Co., London, with request to pass the same to the credit of the United States. I inclose herewith the exchange voucher of the manager of the Oriental Banking Corporation.

I have the honor to inform you that in further pursuance of your instruction No. 35, on the 10th instant I addressed to the minister for foreign affairs a communication, (inclosure No. 2,) acquainting him that the United States expects to receive from Japan the unpaid residue of the Simonoseki indemnity, inasmuch as the other powers interested are receiving the balances due them.

With reference to your instructions touching the joint note of the ministers of the other powers respecting an arrangement to travel and trade in the interior, I have the honor to say that I have given the same full consideration and will act in accordance therewith.

I am, &c.,

JNO. A. BINGHAM.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 94.]

exchange voucher.

Oriental Bank Corporation,
Yokohama, June 16, 1874.

I hereby certify that the sight-rate on London ruling in Yokohama this date is 4s 3d. per dollar, and at this exchange the sum of $11,666.66 = £2,479 3s. 4d.

For the Oriental Bank Corporation:

  • J. ROBERTSON,
    Agent.
  • S. W. Thomson,
    Acting Accountant.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 94.]

Mr. Bingham to minister for foreign affairs.

United States Legation,
Tokei, June 10, 1874.
No. 48.]

Your Excellency: I am instructed by my Government, under date 20th April, to inform your excellency’s government that had the other Powers interested refrained from collecting their portions of the unpaid residue of the Simonoseki indemnity, the government of the United States would not have been disposed to press for its portion remaining unpaid, but that inasmuch as the other powers interested had demanded and been paid on account of the remaining portion of the indemnity, the government of the United States expects to be treated in the same manner.

In obedience to these instructions, I have the honor to acquaint your excellency that I am authorized and ready to receive, on behalf of the United States, an installment of the indemnity equivalent to the sums paid to either of the other powers.

I have, &c.,

JOHN A. BINGHAM.