Office of the Historian

No. 430.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Evarts.

United States Legation,
Tokei, January 21, 1880. (Received February 19.)
No. 1059.]

Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that on the 15th ultimo his excellency the minister for foreign affairs addressed to me a communication, a copy of which is herewith, advising me that an imperial notification had been issued declaring quarantine against the importation to Japan of cattle from Shanghai, China, by reason of a cattle plague which prevailed at that place, but also providing that all cattle snipped at Shanghai for Japan before the notification had been issued would be purchased by the Japanese Government and destroyed.

To his excellency’s communication I replied, acquainting him of my purpose to enforce the cattle quarantine, and that I would advise our consuls and consular agents accordingly, a copy of which reply is herewith. I also inclose a copy of my letter to Consul-General Van Buren, in which I requested him to publicly proclaim (by advertisement) the quarantine, and that it should be observed, and to notify our other consuls in Japan thereof, which the consul-general did promptly and satisfactorily.

It has been privately stated to me that the representatives of the European powers accepted the situation and recognized their obligation to enforce this cattle quarantine, which I may be allowed to say suggests that in the opinion of some of the European states a quarantine by His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Government against the importation of cattle suffering from an infectious disease is altogether allowable, although the same powers last year, and before, denied the right of His [Page 680] Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Government to quarantine against the importation of men infected with an infectious plague. It would seem from this that in the judgment of some of the representatives of the foreign powers the lives of cattle are of more value than the lives of human beings in Japan; or, stating it in another form, that while it is lawful for His Imperial Japanese Majesty to protect his cattle from an importation of a cattle plague, it is unlawful to protect himself or his faithful people from the importation under the nags of all nations of a destructive human plague into His Majesty’s Empire.

It will always be a satisfaction to me that, under your wise administration, our government took no part in this denial of the inherent right of His Imperial Majesty’s Government.

I have, &c.,

JNO. A. BINGHAM.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 1059.]

Mr. Kaosa to Mr. Bingham.

Foreign Office, Tokei,
The 15th, the 12th month, the 12th year Meiji.

Sir: I have the honor to inform your excellency that in consequence of a credible report to the effect that an epidemic prevails among cattle at Shanghai, China, the inclosed notification has been issued, prohibiting the landing at the open ports of any such cattle brought from Shanghai, and beg that your excellency will be good enough to communicate the same to the consuls of your country.

I avail myself, &c.,

INOUYE KAOSA.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 1059.]

Mr. Bingham to Mr. Inouye Kaosa.

United States Legation,
Tokei, December 16, 1879.
No. 1136.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s communication of yesterday, informing me that owing to a prevailing epidemic among cattle in Shanghai, China, the landing of cattle shipped from that port is prohibited by His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Government, and that all cattle shipped from that port before the issuance of the notification of his excellency Sanjo Saneyoshi, His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s prime minister, will be purchased by the government and destroyed. In accordance with your excellency’s request, I will communicate the notification to our consuls, to the end that the same may be duly observed by citizens of the United States.

I beg leave to suggest that the notification should be printed in English in one or more of the foreign newspapers in Japan.

Accept, &c.,

JNO. A. BINGHAM.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 1059.]

Mr. Bingham to Mr. Van Buren.

United States Legation,
Tokei, December 16, 1879.

Sir: Herewith I inclose a notification of his excellency Mr. Sanjo, His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s prime minister, to the effect that owing to the prevailing epidemic among cattle at Shanghai, China, the landing of cattle shipped from that port for Japan is prohibited within the ports of Japan.

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I have to request that you will give public notice of this order and that citizens of the United States will be expected to duly observe the same.

I will also thank you to forward me copies of the notice you may publish to our several consuls and our consular agent in Japan.

I am, &c.,

JNO. A. BINGHAM.