Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1877
No. 35.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Evarts.
Tokei, September 27, 1877. (Received October 26.)
Sir: Referring to special instruction, marked “Separate,” of date 7th of August last, in relation to the methods by which trade with the United States can be most judiciously fostered, I have the honor to acquaint you that some days since I had a conversation on the subject with his excellency Mr. Sameshima, His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s vice minister for foreign affairs, in which he fully agreed with me that there was no reason why the chief exports of Japan—silk, raw and manufactured, silkworm eggs, tea, and rice—to the value of about $20,000,000 per annum, might not, with advantage to both countries, be exchanged for American productions—cotton, raw and manufactured, wool and woolen goods, and iron (manufactured), including tools, engines, railroad, bar, and rod iron, nails, telegraph-wire, &c.—all of which are now imported into Japan from Europe, chiefly from Great Britain and her possessions, to the value of from twenty-five to thirty million dollars per annum. By the inclosed return of the foreign commerce and trade of Japan for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1876 (the return for 1877 is not yet received), you will observe, on page 20, that the total value of imports for that year was $25,743,114, of which imports (see page 18) Great Britain and her possessions furnished, in value, $15,000,000 in round numbers; France and China, $7,700,000, and the United States only to the value of $1,800,000 in round numbers. You will observe, on page 6, the import of cotton fabrics to the value of about $7,000,000; the cotton first furnished by us to England, and by England sent to Japan in cloth and thread. On page 7 you will note the value of imported manufactured iron is about $7,000,000; and, on pages 8 and 9, the value of woolen fabrics imported is estimated at about $3,000,000.
Considering our proximity to Japan, and the fact that we can produce these articles as abundantly and cheaply as England, by the ordinary laws of trade we should have supplied Japan with these and other productions, which we have in abundance. But we were induced to join England in the convention of 1866, by which England sends her fabrics free, or subject only to a nominal duty, to Japan; and aided by her “gunboat policy,” as her journals call it, by her loans to Japan at high interest, and by her large banking capital here of at least $12,000,000, England has pushed the United States out of the market as by like methods (some of her manufacturers appropriating and using our trade marks), she has pushed us out of the trade with China. The trade of Japan with the United States can be most judiciously and successfully fostered, in my opinion, by restoring to Japan the rightful control of her foreign commerce by a revision of our treaties, and there [Page 111] by compel the other treaty powers to do the like, and also by acquainting this people that by reason of our proximity and our manifold resources and surplus productions we can furnish, as the fact is, all foreign manufactures and products needed by the people of Japan for less than the same are now furnished by the European States.
In accordance with your instructions I shall give this subject further and full consideration. I may be pardoned for suggesting here what I have before suggested to your honorable predecessor, that Japan is the gate to the commerce of all Western nations with the East, and that, at no distant day, if Japan and China continue to advance, they may, under a just and wise policy, became the largest purchasers and consumers of the surplus productions of the United States.
I have, &c.,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Comparative table of the value of foreign and domestic productions exported to and imported from the various foreign countries.
| Countries. | Declared value. | |||
| Gold yen. | Sen. | |||
| Great Britain | { | Exports | 2,566,403 | 06.3 |
| Imports | 12,244,683 | 85.5 | ||
| British Possessions, Hong-kong, and Singapore | { | Exports | 1,350,969 | 65.2 |
| Imports | 2,649,645 | 44.5 | ||
| China | { | Exports | 2,641,945 | 11.3 |
| Imports | 4,444,094 | 63.9 | ||
| United States of America | { | Exports | 6,887,307 | 18.0 |
| Imports | 1,811,083 | 97.9 | ||
| France | { | Exports | 3,304,498 | 52.7 |
| Imports | 3,371,829 | 19.3 | ||
| Italy | { | Exports | 472,689 | 15.9 |
| Imports | 33,393 | 16.6 | ||
| Hamburg | { | Exports | 16,655 | 80.1 |
| Imports | 503,397 | 71.3 | ||
| All other countries | { | Exports | 119,500 | 27.1 |
| Imports | 684,986 | 18.0 | ||
Re-exports and reimports.
| Yokohama. | Kobe. | Osaka. | Nagasaki. | |||||
| Declared value. | Declared value. | Declared value. | Declared value. | |||||
| foreign production. | ||||||||
| Gold yen. | Sen | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | |
| Re-exports | 514,375 | 57.5 | 77,784 | 28.2 | 56,212 | 22.9 | ||
| domestic production. | ||||||||
| Reimports | 178 | 25.0 | ||||||
| Hakodate. | Niigata. | Total. | ||||
| Declared value. | Declared value. | |||||
| foreign production. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. |
| Re-exports | 648,372 | 08.6 | ||||
| domestic production. | ||||||
| Reimports | 178 | 25.0 | ||||
Statement showing the value of foreign and domestic productions re-exported to and reexported from the various foreign countries.
foreign productions.
| Gold yen. | Sen. | |
| Great Britain | 34,103 | 85.7 |
| British Possessions, Hong-Kong, and Singapore | 274,710 | 54.4 |
| China | 229,489 | 02.7 |
| United States of America | 10,645 | 58.3 |
| France | 17,173 | 55.0 |
| Hamburg | 5,482 | 57.4 |
| All other countries | 76,766 | 95.1 |
domestic productions.
| Great Britain | 102 | 50.0 |
| British Possessions, Hong-Kong, and Singapore | 75 | 75.0 |
Statement showing the quantity and value of gold and silver specie and bullion exported from and imported at each of the open ports of Japan.
| Yokohama. | Kobe. | Nagasaki. | Total. | ||||||||||
| Quantity. | Value. | Quantity. | Value. | Quantity. | Value. | Quantity. | Value. | ||||||
| exports. | |||||||||||||
| Japanese coin. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | |||||
| Coin, gold | 4,149,843 | 00.0 | 1,440,000 | 00.0 | 1,500 | 00.0 | 5,591,343 | 00.0 | |||||
| Coin, silver | 71,712 | 51.5 | 74,387 | 00.0 | 146,099 | 51.5 | |||||||
| Coin, gold (nibukin) | pce | 2,272,432 | 1,234,385 | 06.2 | 467,430 | 253,907 | 97.6 | 2,739,862 | 1,488,293 | 03.8 | |||
| Coin, gold (Bunsei ichibuban) | do | 16 | 20 | 11.7 | 16 | 20 | 11.7 | ||||||
| Coin (Koichibugin) | do | 670,750 | 232,750 | 25.0 | 670,750 | 232,750 | 25.0 | ||||||
| Coin, gold (ichibugin) | do | 279,812 | 87,217 | 40.0 | 29,400 | 9,163 | 98.0 | 9,792 | 3,052 | 16.6 | 319,004 | 99,433 | 54.6 |
| Coin, gold (nishukin) | do | 70,160 | 9,548 | 77.6 | 70,160 | 9,548 | 77.6 | ||||||
| Coin, silver (Bunsei isshugin) | do | 435,600 | 45,084 | 60.0 | 435,600 | 45,084 | 60.0 | ||||||
| Coin, silver (isshugin) | do | 1,767,288 | 130,779 | 31.2 | 3,620,328 | 267,904 | 27.2 | 14,288 | 1,057 | 31.2 | 5,401,904 | 399,740 | 89.6 |
| Coin, gold (Kioho-oban) | do | 1 | 74 | 71.9 | 1 | 74 | 71.9 | ||||||
| Coin, gold (Genbun Koban) | do | 3 | 17 | 27.7 | 3 | 17 | 27.7 | ||||||
| Coin, gold (Shin-koban) | do | 1 | 1 | 30.4 | 1 | 1 | 30.4 | ||||||
| Trade-dollars | do | 28,925 | 29,004 | 25.0 | 56,445 | 57,009 | 45.0 | 85,370 | 86,013 | 70.0 | |||
| Bullion, silver | cty | 4,607.95 | 1,842,192 | 20.0 | 3.75 | 1,515 | 00.0 | 4,611.70 | 1,843,707 | 20.0 | |||
| Foreign coin. | |||||||||||||
| Mexican dollars | 1,986,711.18 | 2,000,953 | 53.4 | 358,225 | 360,552 | 75.0 | 156,810 | 157,718 | 50.0 | 2,501,746.18 | 2,519,224 | 78.4 | |
| English coin, gold | pounds | 111 | 543 | 52.9 | 103 | 502 | 75.3 | 214 | 1,046 | 28.2 | |||
| French coin, gold | pce | 275 | 1,050 | 00.0 | 21 | 81 | 28.3 | 296 | 1,131 | 28.3 | |||
| Spanish coin, gold | do | 3 | 12 | 00.0 | 3 | 12 | 00.0 | ||||||
| Russian paper money | roubles | 82,626 | 60,482 | 23.2 | 82,626 | 60,482 | 23.2 | ||||||
| Total | 9,557,241 | 57.8 | 2,742,972 | 73.1 | 223,810 | 21.0 | 12,524,024 | 51.9 | |||||
| imports. | |||||||||||||
| Foreign coin. | |||||||||||||
| Mexican dollars | 1,078,422 | 1,084,004 | 12.0 | 232,411.76 | 233,455 | 87.8 | 160,620 | 161,668 | 20.0 | 1,471,453.76 | 1,479,128 | 19.8 | |
| Russian paper money | roubles | 51,900 | 37,990 | 80.0 | 51,900 | 37,990 | 80.0 | ||||||
| Chinese coin, silver | tael | 2,500 | 3,358 | 25.0 | 2,500 | 3,358 | 25.0 | ||||||
| Bullion, gold | cty | 3.88 | 1,616 | 00.0 | 3.88 | 1,616 | 00.0 | ||||||
| Bullion, silver | do | 3,851.46 | 92,355 | 03.0 | 3,851.46 | 92,355 | 03.0 | ||||||
| Japanese coin | |||||||||||||
| Coin, silver | 13,000 | 00.0 | 13,000 | 00.0 | |||||||||
| Trade dollars | pce | 6,841 | 6,841 | 00.0 | 6,841 | 6,841 | 00.0 | ||||||
| Total | 1,090,845 | 12.0 | 327,426 | 90.8 | 216,017 | 25.0 | 1,634,289 | 27.8 | |||||
Comparative table of specie and bullion exported to and imported from the various countries
| Countries. | Value. | |
| Exports to— | Gold yen. | Sen. |
| Great Britain | 7,685,951 | 91.1 |
| British Possessions, Hong-Kong and Singapore | 1,810,429 | 64.3 |
| China | 2,784 860 | 76.9 |
| United States of America | 31 476 | 00.0 |
| France | 17,777 | 00.0 |
| All other countries | 193 529 | 19.6 |
| Imports from— | ||
| Great Britain | 25,168 | 19.0 |
| British Possessions, Hong-Kong and Singapore | 265,512 | 03.8 |
| China | 1,259,756 | 25.0 |
| United States of America | 35,862 | 00.0 |
| All other countries | 47,990 | 80.0 |
Grand summary.
| Value. | Duty. | Declared value. | Duty. | |||||
| exports. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. | Gold yen. | Sen. |
| Domestic productions, dutiable | 16,976,891 | 95.9 | 709,477 | 34.7 | ||||
| Domestic productions, free of duty | 383,076 | 80.7 | ||||||
| Domestic productions, free of duty, for ship’s use | 717,870 | 07.0 | ||||||
| Domestic productions, free of duty, reimports | 178 | 25.0 | ||||||
| Total | 18,077,838 | 83.6 | 709,477 | 34.7 | ||||
| imports. | ||||||||
| Foreign productions, dutiable | 22,753,513 | 78.6 | 986,010 | 04.5 | ||||
| Foreign productions, free of duty | 702,426 | 25.6 | ||||||
| Foreign productions, customs appraisement purchases | 9,466 | 57.1 | 212 | 63.6 | ||||
| Foreign productions, for government use | 2,277,707 | 55.7 | 23,197 | 14.0 | ||||
| Foreign productions, re-exports | 648,372 | 08.6 | ||||||
| Total imports | 25,743,114 | 17.0 | 1,009,419 | 82.1 | ||||
| Total exports | 18,077,838 | 83.6 | 709,477 | 34.7 | ||||
| Total imports | 25,743,114 | 17.0 | 1,009,419 | 82.1 | ||||
| Total exports and imports | 43,820,953 | 00.6 | 1,718,897 | 16.8 | ||||
| Imports, excess over exports | 7,665,275 | 33.4 | 299,942 | 47.4 | ||||
| Treasure exported | 12,524,024 | 51.9 | ||||||
| Treasure imported | 1,634,289 | 27.8 | ||||||
| Exports, excess over imports | 10,889,735 | 24.1 | ||||||
| Collections from— | ||||||||
| Storage and warehouse fees | 11,690 | 51.7 | ||||||
| Entrance and clearance fees | 22,561 | 32.0 | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | 2,101 | 93.3 | ||||||
| Total | 36,353 | 77.0 | ||||||
Number and tonnage of vessels entered at and cleared from each of the open ports of Japan.
| Flags of nationality. | Yokohama. | Kobe. | Osaka. | Nagasaki. | Hakodate. | Niigata. | ||||||
| No. | Tons. | No. | Tons. | No. | Tons. | No. | Tons. | No. | Tons. | No. | Tons. | |
| clearance. | ||||||||||||
| Japanese steamships | 1 | 1,448 | 47 | 67,360 | 1 | 81 | ||||||
| British steamships | 52 | 87,570 | 6 | 7,129 | 57 | 45,129 | 1 | 472 | ||||
| United States steamships | 28 | 115,147 | 2 | 2,248 | 50 | 55,955 | ||||||
| French steamships | 27 | 31,113 | ||||||||||
| Russian steamships | 1 | 495 | 12 | 3,900 | 1 | 120 | ||||||
| Danish steamships | 4 | 1,819 | ||||||||||
| Dutch steamships | 1 | 2,700 | ||||||||||
| Japanese sailing-vessels | 1 | 21 | ||||||||||
| British sailing-vessels. | 40 | 19,760 | 13 | 7,946 | 39 | 17,546 | 10 | 2,910 | ||||
| United States sailing-vessels. | 17 | 12,929 | 4 | 1,854 | 20 | 12,717 | 3 | 546 | ||||
| French sailing-vessels | 4 | 1,301 | ||||||||||
| German sailing-vessels | 23 | 6,076 | 9 | 2,352 | 12 | 3,770 | 5 | 1,179 | ||||
| Danish sailing-vessels | 5 | 859 | 2 | 528 | ||||||||
| Austrian sailing-vessels | 1 | 646 | ||||||||||
| Russian sailing-vessels | 4 | 868 | ||||||||||
| Hawaiian sailing-vessels | 1 | 473 | 1 | 473 | ||||||||
| Norwegian sailing-vessels | 2 | 844 | ||||||||||
| Dutch sailing-vessels | 1 | 187 | ||||||||||
| Chinese sailing-vessels | 3 | 1,368 | ||||||||||
| Total | 203 | 278,415 | 35 | 24,229 | 251 | 211,866 | 22 | 5,329 | ||||
| entrance. | ||||||||||||
| Japanese steamships | 3 | 4,002 | 49 | 71,481 | 1 | 81 | ||||||
| British steamships | 77 | 114,026 | 7 | 6,384 | 37 | 22,508 | 1 | 472 | ||||
| United States steamships | 33 | 126,032 | 57 | 70,930 | ||||||||
| French steamships | 27 | 31,078 | ||||||||||
| Russian steamships | 1 | 498 | 11 | 3,320 | 2 | 592 | ||||||
| German steamships | 1 | 210 | ||||||||||
| Danish steamships | 4 | 1,839 | ||||||||||
| Dutch steamships | 1 | 1,720 | ||||||||||
| British sailing-vessels | 48 | 26,579 | 5 | 3,034 | 42 | 18,919 | 8 | 2,414 | ||||
| United States sailing-vessels. | 21 | 16,952 | 3 | 2,072 | 18 | 11,223 | 2 | 232 | ||||
| French sailing-vessels | 6 | 1,791 | ||||||||||
| German sailing-vessels | 24 | 6,951 | 10 | 2,619 | 13 | 3,860 | 2 | 252 | ||||
| Danish sailing-vessels | 3 | 585 | 2 | 528 | ||||||||
| Austrian sailing-vessels | l | 646 | ||||||||||
| Russian sailing-vessels | 4 | 1,905 | 1 | 120 | ||||||||
| Hawaiian sailing-vessels | 2 | 946 | ||||||||||
| Norwegian sailing-vessels | 1 | 479 | ||||||||||
| Dutch sailing-vessels | 1 | 187 | ||||||||||
| Chinese sailing-vessels | 3 | 1,368 | ||||||||||
| Total | 245 | 331,640 | 25 | 14,109 | 246 | 209,043 | 16 | 4,043 | ||||