Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh.

No. 57.]

Department of State, Washington, July 18, 1868.

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 25th of May, No. 50, in which paper you have brought down to that date your account of the revolutionary proceedings which have taken place in Japan.

The paper encourages the hope that a settlement between the belligerents may be made at an early day on a basis honorable to the contending factions. Every friend of humanity, in or out of Japan, must surely desire so auspicious a result.

Your proceeding in relinquishing the police of Yokohama to the Mikado’s authority is approved.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

R. B. Van Valkenburgh, Esq., &c., &c., &c.