The principal reasons which induced this unanimous conclusion among
ourselves, were as follows:
1. The great change which the form of government of this Empire is now
undergoing renders the officials and the people uneasy and suspicious.
The affairs of the nation are quite unsettled, and we are all uncertain
whether war or peace is to be the order.
2. The impossibility of protecting our citizens at Osacca, Hiogo, and
Yedo, if all these ports and cities were to be opened upon the same
day.
3. The preparations making by the Japanese government for the occupation
of the site set apart for foreigners, although in a state of
forwardness, cannot be completed by the 1st of January, and the opening
on that day would result in putting our countrymen to much trouble and
many discomforts, aside from the personal danger to which they would be
subject.
I enclose, No. 2, copy of the “Arrangements for the settlement of
foreigners at Yedo;” also a copy of the “Regulations for the
establishment of a tow-boat, lighter, and passage-boat service between
Yedo and Yokohama,” both of which having been discussed in several
meetings of my colleagues and myself, together with commissioners
appointed by the Japanese government for that purpose, were finally
agreed upon on the 26th day of November.
I also enclose, No. 3, copy of a notice I deemed best to issue on this
subject.
I trust my action in this matter will meet with the approval of the
President and yourself.
[Translation.]
Proclamation.
We have proclaimed that the city of Yedo would be opened for trade
with foreigners on the 7th day of 12th month, (January 1, 1868,) but
as this will not be expedient, we have agreed with the ministers of
foreign powers to postpone it until the 9th day of the 3d month of
next year, (April 1, 1868.)
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF FOREIGNERS AT
YEDO.
Article 1. Within the limits colored red in
the annexed plan foreigners of nations having treaties with Japan
may hire houses and reside for purposes of trade. But no Japanese
shall be compelled to rent any buildings to foreigners within the
said limits against his will. Moreover, as the Japanese government
are willing that foreigners of those nations having treaties with
Japan should enjoy at Yedo the same facilities for leasing ground
and building houses that are secured to them by treaty at the ports,
the Japanese government are prepared to lease to foreigners for
building purposes that portion of land on the same plan which is
colored blue.
Art. 2. Whenever the above named building
ground shall have been occupied by foreigners, and more space is
required for their use, the Japanese government will prepare the
adjoining space, marked A A on the same plan, which in that case
will be provided with a surrounding road of not less than forty feet
in width. Should more land be subsequently required, the above named
building ground will be further extended, as may from time to time
be desirable, within the limits colored red.
Art. 3. Before the opening of the city to
foreign trade the Japanese government will clear the ground colored
blue in the same plan, and will surround it with a road, which shall
be properly drained, of not less than 40 feet in width. The ground
within this site not required for roads will be leased to foreigners
in the manner provided in articles 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the
arrangements for the formation of foreign settlements at Hiogo and
Osacca.
Art. 4. The Japanese government will see
that the canals passing through the limits colored red are cleared
before the opening of the city to foreign trade, and are
subsequently kept in good order. All expenses connected with the
cleansing of these canals will be borne by the Japanese
government.
Art. 5. The Japanese government engage to
push on with all the expedition possible the foreign hotel which is
being built on the site marked B in the same plan, with a view to
its being completed before the opening of the city to foreign trade.
The management of the hotel will be in the hands of Japanese.
Art. 6. The Japanese government will
construct at the point marked C a convenient landing place, to be
provided with suitable sheds, at which all goods belonging to
foreigners must be landed or shipped. As Yedo, however, is not an
open port, no foreign merchant vessel can anchor there, and all
goods belonging to foreigners must be entered at the custom house at
Yokohama, according to the regulation of trade attached to the
treaties, and must pay duty there, or at some other open port,
before they can be imported into Yedo. For the present, also, and
until it shall be found convenient to collect export duties on
foreign trade at Yedo, all goods exported from that city by
foreigners must be cleared from and pay duty at the custom house at
Yokohama, before they can be shipped on board any foreign vessel at
that port.
Art. 7. Lighters, tow-boats, and
passage-boats, propelled by steam or sails, and belonging to
foreigners, may ply between Yedo and Yokohama for the conveyance of
cargo and passengers, under the regulations annexed to this
agreement, and subject to the provisions of the regulations of trade
attached to the treaties.
Art. 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, unless he be an
officer of a foreign government, and in uniform, must be furnished
with a passport from the consular authority of his nation at
Yokohama, which must be vised by the governor of Kanagawa. Persons
coming from Yokohama by land will be required to show their
passports at the ferry at Kawasaki, while those coming by sea will
have to exhibit them on arriving off the forts at Yedo. Any person,
other than an officer as above named, arriving at Yedo without a
passport, may be arrested and conveyed before his consul.
Art. 9. Foreign lighters, tow-boats, and
passage-boats, and all other foreign boats, with the exception of
those belonging to vessels of war, will be required on arriving off
Yedo to enter by the channel between the two forts marked with white
beacons. Each boat must stop or heave to on passing between these
forts, in order that it may be boarded by a Japanese officer. The
master of each foreign boat must deliver to the boarding officer a
list of all the passengers on board, and each foreign passenger must
exhibit his passport to the boarding officer, if the latter requires
him to do so.
Art. 10. The Japanese government undertake
to lay down marks or buoys in the above named channel, from its
entrance at the two said forts to the foreign settlement.
[Page 81]
Art. 11. Foreigners living at Yedo shall be
free to go where they please, within the following boundaries,
namely :
The Shintonegawa, (Yedo gawa) from its mouth as far as the guard
house at Kanawachi. From Kanawachi to Senji by the Mito road. From
Senji along the course of the Funitagawa to Furaga no Kamigô. From
the latter place a line drawn through the following villages :
Omuro, Takakura, Koyata, Ogiwara, Migodera, Ishibatake, Mitsugi, and
Tauaka to Hino. From Hino to the mouth of the Tamagawa. No
obstruction shall be opposed to the free circulation of foreigners,
either by land or water, in every part of the city of Yedo open to
the Japanese public.
REGULATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
TOWBOAT,LIGHTERANDPASSAGE-BOAT SERVICE BETWEEN YEDO AND
YOKOHAMA.
1st. No foreign lighter, towboat or passage-boat may ply between Yedo
and Yokohama, unless furnished with a license by the Japanese
authorities.
2d. Whenever application is made for a license, the governor of
Kanagawa and the consul of the nation to which the boat belongs
shall consider the application and determine whether a license shall
be granted. Each license must be signed by the governor and
countersigned by the consul, and must contain a full description of
the boat, in their respective languages.
3d. Each license must be cancelled or renewed as the governor and
consul may determine at the expiration of each year, and a fee of
one ichibu per ton measurement, payable to the Japanese government,
will be charged on the issue or renewal of each license.
4th. No license shall be issued to any foreign boat or vessel drawing
more than six feet of water when loaded, and no boat or vessel thus
licensed may discharge or take in cargo or passengers outside the
forts at Yedo, except under unusual circumstances, and by special
written permission from the Japanese authorities.
5th. The Japanese government may put custom-house officers on board
any licensed boat, whenever they may think proper, or may appoint
officers to accompany the said boats on the passage between Yedo and
Yokohama.
6th. All goods taken on board a licensed boat at Yokohama must be
accompanied by duty-paid or duty-free certificates, and all goods
landed at Yedo without such certificates will be liable to seizure
and confiscation.
7th. A licensed boat may only take in and discharge goods at Yedo and
Yokohama at the wharves indicated by Japanese authorities, or by
means of boats authorized for the purpose by the Japanese
government.
8th. No licensed boat may be employed in any other way than for the
conveyance of goods and passengers or the towage of licensed boats
between Yedo and Yokohama, nor may they communicate with any other
place, or with any native or foreign vessel, on the passage.
9th. The foreign crews of licensed boats or vessels, with the
exception of the masters, will not be allowed to land at Yedo.
10th. Any breach of these regulations, or of any other regulations
that may subsequently be made on this subject, may be punished by
forfeiture of license in addition to such penalty as may be imposed
by the consul of the nation to which the boat belongs, under the
powers vested in him by his government for securing the observance
of treaties and conventions by his countrymen.
