Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward
No. 44.]
Legation of the United States,
Yedo,
August 23, 1867.
Sir: On my recent arrival at Nagasaki, in the
Shenandoah, returning from the west coast, I heard a rumor that a large
number of native Christians of the Roman Catholic faith had recently
been arrested, tortured, and imprisoned, under an old law of Japan, for
the exercise of Christian belief. I at once wrote a note to Right
Reverend Bishop Petitjean, the Roman Catholic bishop of Japan, who
resides in Nagasaki, asking for such information as might be in his
possession. The next day, 27th July, he called upon me and kindly gave
me the following facts :
In Japan there are now, as nearly as can be estimated, 20,000 native
Roman Catholics, descendants from the Christians formerly resident in
this country. These are scattered, more or less, all over the empire.
There are, comparatively, no new converts. The largest portion of these
Christians reside in the island of Kiusiu, and Nagasaki is the central
point at which there is a French bishop and several French priests.
Whenever it has been possible, these Christians have kept up their forms
of worship in secret, and their religious fires have been constantly
alive since the last massacre at Pappenburg. Near Nagasaki there are
many of these Christians, and the priests frequently meet among them,
preaching and administering their sacraments in the night. The
government must have had notice of these meetings for a long time, but
took no measures about them until the Bonzes, or priests of the Buddhist
and Sintoo temples, complained bitterly that their revenues from
burials, &c., were rapidly falling off. About the middle of July,
these complaints having become so numerous, the governor, in the night
time, caused the arrest of 63 men, women, and children, in the little
valley of Owri Kami, situated about four miles from Nagasaki. They were
confined in small prisons erected for the purpose. It was not known
what, if any, torture had been inflicted, or what was to be the
punishment.
Deeming it my duty, I at once asked an audience with the two governors of
Nagasaki, and, on the 29th of July, they visited me pursuant to my
request. I expressed to them my regret at the occurrence, and endeavored
to induce them to release the poor prisoners. They declined, having
arrested them as criminals under the laws of Japan, upon complaint and
proof, unless by direction from the government. They assured me,
however, that they had not been tortured, and promised that the wants of
those confined, as well as of their families, should be provided for,
and that no future arrests should be made until directions were received
from the Gorogio.
Subsequently, I learned that two more arrests had been made. I at once
asked another interview with the governors, and on the 8th of August
they again visited me. They then informed me the two subsequent arrests
were not by their order, and that the charge against the persons
arrested was not that of being Christians. They renewed their promises
of kind treatment made at the former interview.
On my return to this city, and on the 20th instant, I had an interview
with one of the governors of foreign affairs upon the subject, and
addressed a communication to the Gorogio, a copy of which I forward in
this.
To this I have received, as yet, no answer, but am informed,
unofficially, that orders have been forwarded to Nagasaki for the
release of the prisoners.
Enclosed (No. 2) I send memoranda of my conversations with Noshe Osumi No
Kami and Tokuraga Iwami No Kami, the two governors of Nagasaki.
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I trust that my action in this matter will meet withthe approval of the
President and of the department.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Van Valkenburgh to the ministers of foreign affairs,
No. 72.]
Legation of the United States,
Yedo,
August 20, 1867.
It is the express desire of my government that I shall in no manner
interfere with the internal regulations of Japan, and that I shall
carefully guard against even suspicion of doing so; yet I cannot
fail to state to your excellencies that the President will learn
with regret the recent action of the governor of Nagasaki in causing
the arrest of native Christians at that port for no crime or
misdemeanor, other than the profession of their faith and on the
plea of their infringement of an ancient law which, if these people
were at all aware of its existence, is, at all events, now obsolete
and in entire disaccord with the enlightened policy inaugurated by
his present Majesty the Tycoon.
The absolute religious freedom of which the United States has set the
example to the world and the entire independence of all religious
belief from the interference and control of government, have in a
great measure contributed to the unexampled prosperity and power at
which my country has arrived. Intolerance in regard to religious
matters would at this moment be regarded in a very serious light by
the Christian world, and perhaps be followed to a greater or less
extent by the withdrawal of the sympathy of the great western
powers, of which the government of the Tycoon stands so much in
need.
My remonstrances with the governor of Nagasaki have no doubt had for
result what instructions for the release of the native Christians
have ere this been issued.
The governor of Nagasaki acted in this unfortunate matter on his own
responsibility, and while I now call your excellencies’ attention to
the danger to which an ill-considered act of an agent, with only
very limited authority, may lead, I have the honor to request your
excellencies to inform me officially that these native Christians
have been released; that their property has been restored to them,
and that an absolute forgetfulness of the past may he considered as
a guarantee againt similar ill-advised acts for the future.
With respect and esteem,
R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident
of the United States.
Their Excellencies the Ministers for Foreign
Affairs,
&c.,&c., &c., Yedo.
Minutes of an interview had this day with Noshe
Osumi No Kami and Tokuraga Iwami No Kami, governors of
Nagasaki.
Minister. Am sorry to learn that, by the governor’s orders, a number
of native Christians have been arrested and imprisoned.
Governor. Am deeply sorry for this matter. These people have
announced publicly that they are Christians. I am obliged by laws to
arrest them, though sorry to do so.
Minister. I had hoped that the Japanese had become more enlightened
in regard to these matters. In all countries, especially in America,
we can worship God as we choose.
Governor. According to Japanese law, for a long time past, foreign
religion is prohibited. When that law is repealed we will not arrest
any one because of his religion.
Minister. I have a copy of that law translated from the Japanese, and
will do all I can to have the Gorogio repeal it. The whole world
will be astonished to hear that the governor has arrested these
people because they do not use the same form of worship with
himself. I understand the governor must carry out the law, but hope
he will treat these prisoners well until they can be released by the
proper tribunal.
Governor. Have taken care that these prisoners are treated properly,
better than ordinary ones. Have written to the Gorogio about these
matters, but not yet received an answer. About 63 have been
arrested. Impossible for me to release them without instructions
from the Gorogio. Had no instructions from the Gorogio to arrest
them.
Minister. Am sorry it has happened; it will injure Japan in the eyes
of all nations, and at the time when the Tycoon wants their sympathy
and support.
Governor. The number of Christians in Japan is daily increasing, and
we fear it will lead to internal troubles.
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Minister. Governor should not meddle with religion. That is the only
true way to avoid trouble.
2d Governor. Have just left the capital. Tycoon’s mind is quite
different from what it was formerly. Laws have been changed greatly.
Think this law will be changed also, but the Tycoon has not yet had
time.
Minister. I speak as a friend of the Tycoon and of Japan. Believe the
Tycoon to be a true, earnest, and most intelligent man. My
government will greatly regret this occurrence, and I hope the law
will soon be repealed. Does the governor allow any one to visit
these prisoners, and will he allow me ?
Governor. Common people are prohibited from seeing them; only the
officers in charge can see them. Japanese high officials do not like
to see prisoners unless in court. You are of higher rank than myself
and would not like you to see them; but if you wish to go, will
accompany you.
Minister. Have these prisoners been beaten or tortured, and have they
plenty to eat ?
Governor. They have not been beaten or tortured, and they have plenty
to eat. Will not arrest any more before I get the Tycoon’s opinion.
Their families are well taken care of, an officer having been
appointed for that purpose. A great many complaints have been made
relative to the increase of Christianity in Japan, obliged to arrest
these people according to law; it is my duty. Will submit the matter
to the opinion of the Tycoon and must abide by his decision.
Memoranda of interview held August 8, 1867,
with the governors of Nagasaki.
Minister. Sorry to hear that since last interview more Christians
have been arrested.
Governor. They were not arrested by my order nor because they were
Christians, but by an officer because they disobeyed an order of
this government. They were not put in prison.
Minister. How many were there of them ?
Governor. Two, only.
Minister. Are they women ?
Governor. Yes.
Minister. They disobeyed some order of the government ?
Governor. They are confined for that.
Minister. Not because they are Christians, but because they disobeyed
an order ?
Governor. Yes.
Minister. How many Christians are confined and in prison ?
2d Governor. They were arrested during my absence. Do you wish to
speak to the Gorogio about it ?
Minister. Yes.
2d Governor. Sixty-five. Have spoken to the Gorogio, at Miako. Cannot
release them on my own responsibility.
Minister. I understand. I want all the information that I may be able
to lay the matter before the Gorogio. Have any Christians been
arrested in any other part of this island ?
Governor. Do not know. Of what country are they; what Daimio’s
province ?
Minister. I do not know. Have heard that some of them have been
arrested.
Governor. I have heard nothing of it.
Minister. Have any Christians died since their confinement ?
Governor. No, not as yet.
