Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward
No. 56.]
Legation of the United States,
Yedo,
October 22, 1867.
Sir: I have not yet received from the Japanese
government the agreement and regulations they propose for the foreign
settlement in this city. In my No. 43, of August 22d, I informed you
that the site had been selected and that a hotel was in process of
construction. The work is going on rapidly and the ground is being
prepared previous to its occupation by foreigners. My colleagues and
myself having had several interviews, have unanimously agreed to accept
certain regulations, if proposed by the Japanese government, and that
government has also assented to them, so we await now only their
reception officially to approve of them. Enclosure No. 1 is a copy of
the regulations in about the form they will be sent to us. I have not
been able to procure the map referred to in the enclosure, but will
forward one with the agreement when it shall have been concluded.
The port to be opened upon the west coast has not yet been fixed upon.
The English and French ministers both strongly favor Neeëgata with an
open harbor on the island of Sado, thirty-five miles distant. The Tycoon
owns both this island ana the city of Neeëgata, while the other harbors
on the west coast are all owned by princes or Daimios. The Japanese
government urge the opening of Neeëgata not only as a matter of
convenience to them, but to avoid difficulties with the Daimios, which
would occur were they compelled to wrest a port from them for the
benefit of foreigners. Upon the island of Sado are the gold mines of
Japan, and should Neeëgata and a harbor on this island both be opened
with steam communication between the two, more trade, of course, would
be the result, especially as Neeëgata is the largest and most prosperous
city on that sea-coast.
I am impressed with the importance of having some port opened by the 1st
of January, not so much on account of trade, but to keep up the spiritof
progress which is evidently abroad in this land. Therefore, rather than
not to succeed in the opening of a port by the time indicated in the
treaty, I may consent to Neeëgata, upon the condition that the harbor in
Sado shall also be opened, a foreign settlement designated at both
places with steam communication between them.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Arrangements for the settlement of foreigners at
Yedo.
1. Within the limits colored red in the annexed plan foreigners of
all nations having treaties with Japan may hire or purchase houses
or lease building land from any Japanese owning said houses or land
and willing to hire, sell, or lease the same. The said foreigners
and Japanese may make between themselves such engagements as they
may please for the
[Page 67]
above
purposes, without the interference of the Japanese officers; but all
contracts for the hire or sale of houses, and all leases of land
must be registered directly after they are made at the office of the
Matsibujio in the Teppodru, and the consul of the nation to which
the foreigner belongs.
2. Foreigners occupying houses or land within the said limits will
pay land rent to the Japanese government, and will be liable to the
same municipal charges as are paid by Japanese occupants within the
said limits. The amount of such land rent and municipal charges will
be formally notified by the Japanese government to the foreign
representatives.
3. Before the 1st January, 1868, the Japanese government will clear
the ground colored black and marked A A in the annexed plan, and
will surround this site with a road not less than 40 feet in width.
The ground in this site will be leased to foreigners in the manner
provided in articles 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the arrangement for the
establishment of foreign settlements at Hiogo and Osacca. In case
more space should be required upon these terms, the Japanese
government will extend this site by clearing and filling in the
adjoining ground marked B B B on the annexed plan, which, in that
case, will also be provided with a surrounding road of not less than
40 feet in width.
4. The Japanese government will see that the canals passing through
the limits colored red in the annexed plan are thoroughly cleansed
before the 1st January next, and are subsequently kept in good
order.
5. The Japanese government undertake to erect on the ground marked C
in the annexed plan a set of buildings adapted to the purposes of a
foreign hotel. The buildings are to be constructed on a plan
supplied by a foreign architect, and will be finished by the 1st
January next. The management of the hotel will be in the hands of
the Japanese.
6. The Japanese government will establish an office for the
inspection of goods and a bonded warehouse at the point marked D on
annexed plan, and will construct at the same point a convenient
wharf, at which all merchandise belonging to foreigners must be
landed or shipped. All import and export duties on goods landed or
shipped at Yedo will be paid at Yokohama, and any attempt to evade
payment of duties at the latter place will be dealt with in
accordance with the treaty and regulations of trade. As Yedo is not
an open port no merchant vessels of any nation will be allowed to
anchor in Yedo bay.
7. On the opening of Yedo to trade, guards will not accompany
foreigners when they go out; but as it would be unsafe for
foreigners to pass beyond the limits colored red in the annexed plan
after nightfall without a guard, the Japanese officers will furnish
one in case of emergency, or on the written requisition of a
diplomatic or consular authority.
8. In order to give due effect to the provisions of the treaties
which relate to the residence of foreigners at Yedo, every foreigner
coming to Yedo must be provided with a passport from the consular
authority of his nation at Yokohama, which must be vised by the
governor of Kanagawa, and must be produced when demanded by the
Japanese officers at the Sogo river, or on landing at Yedo.
