File No. 894.001 Y8.
The Ambassador of Japan to
the Acting Secretary of State.
No. 44.]
Imperial Japanese Embassy,
Washington,
October 11, 1912.
Sir: I have the honor to acquaint you that I
have received from my Government, for presentation to the President of
the United States, an autograph letter of His Majesty the Emperor of
Japan announcing the much lamented demise of His Majesty the late
Emperor, and the consequent Accession of my present August Master to the
Throne.
As the President is, I understand, actually out of town, I beg to forward
to you, under separate sealed cover, the Imperial communication
addressed to the President and to enclose herewith a copy of its English
translation, in the hope that you may be so good as to cause the said
letter to be submitted to its high destination.
Accept [etc.]
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The Emperor to the
President.
Great and Good Friend: It is with the most
profound grief that I announce to You the demise of My Greatly
Revered and Beloved Father, His Majesty Emperor Mutsuhito, which
took place at the Palace in Tokio, on the thirtieth
[Page 638]
ultimo in the forty-fifth year of
Meiji. I feel convinced that You will participate in the great
sorrow which has befallen Me and the Imperial Family and the whole
Nation.
In acquainting You, at the same time, with My accession to the
Throne, I assure You that it will ever be My earnest desire to
foster and to draw still closer the bonds of sincere friendship and
good accord which so happily subsist between Our respective
Countries.
I avail Myself of this occasion to tender to You, Mr. President, My
cordial wishes for Your happiness, as well as the assurances of the
profound esteem and invariable affection with which I am,
Your sincere Friend,
Yoshihito.
The
Palace,
Tokyo
,
This thirtieth day of the eighth month of
the first year of Taisho.
