Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.
No. 75.]
Legation of the United States,
Yokohama,
July 22, 1868.
Sir: The Italian and Prussian representatives
having determined, as reported in my dispatch No. 69, of the 13th
instant, to insist upon the opening of Neegata, for the purpose of
preserving silk-worm eggs, against the wishes of the Mikado’s
authorities, I now have the honor to inform you that their intention was
carried out, and that several vessels have since cleared for that
port.
I transmit herewith inclosure No. 1, copy of the Prussian chargé
d’affaires’ letter to the minister for foreign affairs, covering copy of
his instructions to the Prussian consul. The letter and instructions of
the Italian minister are identical.
I also transmit No. 2, copy of my letter to our consul at this port on
the subject.
It can only be hoped, for the sake of the important interests involved,
that those who ventured to this new field of enterprise may be
successful, and that, in the present disturbed state of that part of
Japan where fighting is said almost daily to be going on, the presence
of foreigners may not lead to an increase of the existing
complications.
I further transmit No. 3, copy of a letter from Hegashi Kuze Chiuijio
declaring it to be the intention of the Mikado’s government to make
Osaka a port of entry, and to open Yedo as a city only.
Until tranquillity has been restored and trade shall have revived, it is
not probable that such legislation will lead to any practical result,
and I am inclined, therefore, to postpone the discussion of those
measures to a future and more favorable time.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Translation.]
At the conference which, their excellencies the ministers for foreign
affairs held with the representatives of the six treaty powers, on
the 6th instant, their excellencies declared that the government of
his Majesty the Mikado did not intend to object to the opening of
Neegata, which had been agreed upon in the treaties and conventions
concluded
[Page 782]
between the
foreign representatives and the government of the Taikoon. Their
excellencies added, at the same time, that they wished to get some
further information on this subject from Yedo and Kioto, which they
would hasten to communicate to the foreign representatives at the
latest in fifteen days. As the undersigned has not received any
communications on this subject from their excellencies, he must
assume that they have nothing to add to the declarations made in the
conference of the 6th instant.
Therefore the undersigned has the honor to enclose to their
excellencies copy of a letter which he addresses to his consul, and
in which he communicates to this official the conditions upon which
Prussian subjects may go to Ne-egata. The undersigned hopes that
their excellencies will regard this letter as a new proof of his
wish to avoid everything that might be disagreeable to the
government of his Majesty the Mikado, and to obtain for the
interests of the country he has the honor to represent in Japan only
what is absolutely necessary.
With respect and consideration,
VON BRANDT, His Prussian Majesty’s Chargé
d’Affaires.
[Untitled]
By my letter of the 30th March I instructed you not to allow Prussian
subjects to go to Ne-egata, opened de jure
from the 1st April, 1868.
The reasons which at that time dictated this measure still exist in
part, but other reasons of a higher interest render it now very
desirable that Prussian subjects should be allowed to go to Ne-egata
in a regular and legitimate way, at least for some months of this
year.
The troubles in the country around Yedo render it more than doubtful
if the requisite quantity of silk-worm eggs will be brought to
Yokohama, and new facilities should therefore be given to those who
trade in this article.
The minister for foreign affairs having declared to me that the
government of his Majesty the Mikado has not the intention of
presenting any opposition to Prussian subjects visiting Ne-egata,
you will inform Prussian subjects that his Majesty’s authorities
have no further reason to prevent them going to Ne-egata from the
15th July of this year, and exercising there such trade as the
treaties admit of.
It is to be hoped that the government, also, in whose hands Ne-egata
will be on the 15th July, will present no opposition to these visits
from Prussian subjects.
It will, however, be your duty to inform Prussian subjects that it
will not be possible to guarantee to them at Ne-egata the same
security they enjoy at the other ports of Japan.
A. Reis, Esq., His
Majesty’s Acting Consul.
[Untitled]
Legation of the United
States, Yokohama,
June 25, 1868.
Sir: Information having been received by me
that the consuls of Italy and Prussia are authorized to make known
to the subjects of those powers that they can proceed to Ne-egata
after the 15th July next, for the purpose of carrying on such trade
as is permitted by the treaties, I deem it my duty to inform you
that the Japanese ministers for foreign affairs have communicated to
me the fact that a state of war is existing at Ne-egata, and
therefore I deem it unavoidable at this moment to declare that port
opened to American citizens.
As soon, however, as it is deemed safe for the purpose of trade I
shall give you further information.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient
servant,
General J. Stahel, United States Consul, Kanagawa.
[Untitled]
I have the honor to inform you that it has been decided on our part
to make Osaka a port of entry, as soon as an agreement to that
effect shall have been made with the foreign representatives.
I also have to notify you that, even if the representatives should
desire it now or hereafter, Yedo cannot become a port of entry, and
that it is intended to open it as a city. The 28th day of the 5th
month, (17th July.)
His Excellency R. B. Van Valkenburgh,
Minister Resident of the United States,
&c., &c., &c.
