No. 201.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation, Japan,
Tokei, September 19, 1876.
(Received October 26.)
No. 441.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
translation of an imperial message, which His Majesty the Emperor
transmitted on the 7th instant to Prince Arisugawa no Miya, president of the
Genroin. The Emperor expresses the purpose to consider the fundamental laws
of all foreign countries with reference to a national constitution for his
own empire.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
message from the emperor to the
genroin.
[From the “Hochi Shimbem,” September 11,
1876.]
In connection with the national constitution which is now to be
established, the fol-Uowing imperjyal message was on the 7th instant
delivered to Arisugawa no Miya, president of the Genroin:
“It is our wish to consider extensively the laws of all foreign countries
with reference to our national constitution, and thereby to determine
our constitutional law.
[Page 382]
Do
you, therefore, prepare a draft for this purpose and submit it to us. We
will then make our choice.”
On the following day, the 8th instant, the president made the above known
to all the members of the Genioin, and we hear that four of the latter,
viz, Hosokawa, Fukuba, Yanagiwara, and Nakojima, were appointed to form
a committee of investigation.
