File No. 894.001 Y8.

The Ambassador of Japan to the Acting Secretary of State.

No. 44.]

Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that I have received from my Government, for presentation to the President of the United States, an autograph letter of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan announcing the much lamented demise of His Majesty the late Emperor, and the consequent Accession of my present August Master to the Throne.

As the President is, I understand, actually out of town, I beg to forward to you, under separate sealed cover, the Imperial communication addressed to the President and to enclose herewith a copy of its English translation, in the hope that you may be so good as to cause the said letter to be submitted to its high destination.

Accept [etc.]

S. Chinda.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

The Emperor to the President.

Great and Good Friend: It is with the most profound grief that I announce to You the demise of My Greatly Revered and Beloved Father, His Majesty Emperor Mutsuhito, which took place at the Palace in Tokio, on the thirtieth [Page 638] ultimo in the forty-fifth year of Meiji. I feel convinced that You will participate in the great sorrow which has befallen Me and the Imperial Family and the whole Nation.

In acquainting You, at the same time, with My accession to the Throne, I assure You that it will ever be My earnest desire to foster and to draw still closer the bonds of sincere friendship and good accord which so happily subsist between Our respective Countries.

I avail Myself of this occasion to tender to You, Mr. President, My cordial wishes for Your happiness, as well as the assurances of the profound esteem and invariable affection with which I am,

Your sincere Friend,

Yoshihito.