Mr. Denby to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, September 10,
1894. (Received October 27.)
No. 1960.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
copy of a dispatch from the Japanese minister for foreign affairs to Mr.
Dun, U. S. minister at Tokyo, explanatory of Japan’s withdrawal from
negotiations concerning the exemption of private ships from capture.
I also inclose herewith a copy of another dispatch from the same to the
same, in explanation of the refusal of Japan to grant safe conducts to
the vessels of the Chinese foreign customs service employed as
light-house tenders.
I have, etc.,
Chas. Denby, Jr.,
Chargé d’ Affaires ad
interim.
[Inclosure 1 in No.
1960.]
Viscount Mutsu
Munemitsu to Mr. Dun.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Tokyo, August 18, 1894.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive your
excellency’s note of the 15th instant inclosing a further telegram
from the U. S. chargé d’affaires at Peking.
I beg to request that your excellency will have the kindness to
inform Mr. Denby by wire that the Imperial Government definitely
withdraw from the negotiations regarding the proposed exemption of
private ships from capture.
[Page 175]
The Imperial Government do not feel called upon to explain to the
Chinese Government the reasons underlying their resolution, but the
courteous action of your excellency and Mr. Denby makes them
especially anxious that you should not remain in ignorance of the
actual grounds upon which their determination rests.
The position in which Mr. Denby’s last telegram placed the question
left, in the estimation of the Imperial Government, no room for hope
that a satisfactory accommodation on the subject was possible, and a
no less serious obstacle to the conclusion of an arrangement is the
fact, which has but recently come to the knowledge of the Imperial
Government, that the Chinese Government is still holding the vessel,
the alleged unconditional release of which was advanced as the
pretext for the proposed general understanding.
Thanking your excellency for your courtesy in this matter, and
requesting you to convey to Mr. Denby the expression of my high
appreciation of his kindness, I beg to renew, etc.,
Mutsu Munemitsu,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
1960.]
Viscount Mutsu
Munemitsu to Mr. Bun.
Department for Foreign Affairs,
Tokyo, August 23, 1894.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your excellency’s note of the 18th instant, communicating
the copy of a telegram from the U. S. chargé d’affaires at
Peking.
While the Imperial Government are disposed to do everything in their
power to protect neutral commerce, they do not think they can
reasonably be expected, in the direction indicated, to relax to any
extent their belligerent rights, since it would be impossible for
them to secure any satisfactory guarantee that the vessels in
question might not be employed in conveying contraband of war.
Besides, by having recourse to the expedient of extinguishing
established lights along her coast, China has clearly deprived
herself of the right, even if her motives were wholly disinterested,
to ask Japan’s indulgence in the matter of Chinese light-house
tenders.
I beg, therefore, to ask your excellency to have the kindness to
inform Mr. Denby that the Imperial Government can not grant the
request preferred through the inspector-general of the Chinese
customs.
I avail, etc.,
Mutsu Munemitsu,
Minister for Foreign
Affairs.
