I inclose No. 2, a communication I at once addressed to those gentlemen, and No. 3, the answer received on the evening of the same day. I inclose also No. 4, copy of a communication addressed by me to D. L. Moore, esq., United States vice-consul at Nagasaki, similar ones being also addressed to the consular agents at both Hiogo and Osaka, and also to General Stahel, United States consul at Kanagawa. With our consul at Hakodadi I have here no means of communication, but have instructed the vice-consul at Nagasaki to furnish him with copies of any communications and information, should opportunity offer. I inclose also No. 5, copy of the last communication received by me from the Tycoon's government, about two o'clock on the morning of the 31st January, and after the Tycoon had left his castle at Osaka, on his way to Yedo. It was four hours after the receipt of this document, and six hours after the flight of the Tycoon, that the foreign representatives left the upper part of Osaka for the embarking place near the fort, seven miles distant from their legations. I inclose No. 6, copy of a communication from the governor of Hiogo, given to our consular agent at this place on the 1st instant, in which the governor says: "The government will of course use their best endeavors to protect your flag and countrymen, but in the present unsettled and unsatisfactory state of affairs it is desirable that your countrymen withdraw to their ships." I also inclose No. 7, the last communication received by consular agent at Hiogo, from the governor, on the afternoon of the 2d instant. I fear difficulties may occur at Yokohama and Nagasaki. The Monocacy is at the former and the Shenandoah at the latter place. Trusting that my action will be approved, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. [Translation.] By the order of Tycoon Ieuka, we have the honor to inform you by the present letter the following subjects: The vessels of Matsdaira Shuri No Daibu, (Satsuma,) having violated the law of Japan, have committed acts of rebellion to which we are now taking necessary steps to put an end. In consequence of this circumstance, we request you will kindly issue the order to your countrymen to confine strictly themselves to the stipulations of the treaty prohibiting the contraband and stating that the merchant vessels are not allowed to enter for commercial purpose into any port except that opened by the treaty, and that all kinds of arms and ships of war cannot be sold to another except to the Japanese government. Those stipulations, considered as a mere matter of obligation in time of peace, must be regarded as one of the gravest importance in time of civil war, so that slight fanlt in carrying out the engagement of this kind in the first case should be considered as the serious infraction of the law of nations in the latter. We therefore trust that, according to the speech addressed to Tycoon Ieuka, in late audiences, by yourself as well as by your colleagues, to assure him that you will remain quite a stranger to the interior affairs of the country, you will kindly adopt such measures as you may think suitable in order to place your countrymen in a limit of maintaining and conforming themselves to the strict sense of the said treaty. As to what concerns to us, we shall be obliged to employ the force in case of neces‐ sity for reducing the rebels to obey the government, and we beg to inform you beforehand that we have already given necessary order to the commanding officers of our navy to keep up careful watch to see whether there is any vessel violating the treaty, We hope that when this hostility will be opened you will do, in concordance with us, everything conformable to the usage of your country under such circumstances, on the ground of right and justice. We further request you will be good enough to give orders to your countrymen not to take passage on board of any vessel of the abovenamed Daimio, because we have already given the orders to seize or to employ the force, if resistance be made, all the vessels of Matsdaira Shuri No Daibu, (Satsuma,) as soon as they appear before us, both commercial and men-of-war. In case of some foreigners being found on board of such vessel, we shall render every effort to protect them from danger and hand them over to their respective authorities, but in case of employing the force, we are sorry to say that they will most likely endanger the life by their own risk. We have not slightest doubt to see that the necessary communication shall be made by you to all the commanding officers of your men-of-war to prevent them from interfering when the fire shall be changed between the vessels of Tycoon and those of rebels close to the vessels of your country. Stated with respect and consideration. SAKAI MUTA NO KAMI. 2D 1ST MONTH, 4TH YEAR OF KEI-AN, (27th January, 1868.) His Excellency R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, No. 17.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN JAPAN, Osaka, January 28, 1868. GENTLEMEN: I have this moment received your excellencies' communication of last night, asking me to take such measures as may be necessary to preserve neutrality upon the part of citizens of the United States. In order that I may be correct in any notice I may deem proper to issue to my countrymen, it will be necessary for me to be informed “with whom is the Japanese government now engaged in war; is Matsdaira Sui No Daibu the only person in arms against the government, or has he allies and confederates ?" I also desire to say to my countrymen, (if such be fact,) that the Japanese government has not only the disposition and ability to protect them and their rights under the treaty in Japan, but that it will do so. Will your excellencies give to me information upon these points to-day, as I desire, if possible, to leave for Yedo to-morrow. With respect and esteem, Their Excellencies SAKI MUTA NO KAMI, ITAKURA IGA NO KAMI, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States. MATSDAIRA BUZEN NO KAMI. [Translation.] 4TH OF 1ST MONTH, (JANUARY 28,) 1868. SIR: We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's communication in reply to ours, on the subject of neutrality on the part of your countrymen with reference to our present internal troubles. We note your excellency's inquiry therein, and beg to inform you, in answer, that at present there is but one Daimio, Matsdaira Sui No Daibu, against whom the government is in arms. Should, however, others be drawn into the war, we have every confidence in our ability to crush them as well. We shall be glad to place your excellency in possession of his or their names whenever such shall be the case. We trust your excellency will give yourself no anxiety on this head, as we have taken every precaution to protect the treaty nations from any danger which might be occasioned through the presect exigency. We desire at the same time that your excellency will not frequent dangerous places, as far as practicable, for the present. With great respect and esteem, His Excellency R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States. ITAKURA IGA NO KAMI. No. 20.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN JAPAN, SIR: Hostilities having commenced between the Tycoon and Matsdaira Sui No Daibu, (Satsuma,) you will be careful to preserve a strict neutrality, and enforce an observance of the stipulations of the treaty with Japan. Munitions of war can only be sold to the Japanese government, or to foreigners, and merchant vessels must not visit unopened ports. Advise our countrymen to be cautious and prudent, and to refrain from taking passage or service on a Japanese vessel, for fear of danger in case of a naval engagement. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, D. L. MOORE, Esq., United States Vice-Consul, Nagasaki. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States. [Translation.] HIOGO, February 1, 1868. SIR: I beg to inform you that in the present disturbed state of Osaka, and the troops of Satsuma still pressing on, it is impossible to say whether they will come on to this or not. The government will, of course, use their best endeavors to protect your flag and countrymen, but in the present unsettled and unsatisfactory state of affairs it is desirable that your countrymen withdraw to their ships. With respect and esteem, PAUL FRANK, Esq., SHIBATA HUGA NO KAMI, Governor of Hiogo. United States Consular Agent. [Translation.] HIOGO, February 3, 1868. SIR: I find that the present troublesome condition of affairs here directed against our government renders a longer stay on our part most dangerous, and by leaving we avoid most melancholy events, which may occur to this place. Our retreat from this place will be of advantage to both sides, and to prevent cruel acts we have decided to give up this port for the present time. Some of the custom-house officials shall remain in the custom-house for the convenience of trade. I have the honor to inform you by this about our opinion, and shall address you about this subject again. With respect and esteem, SHIBATA HUGA NO KAMI. NOTE. This communication is dated February 3. It was received in the afternoon of February 2, by the consular agent. No further communication was made to him and no officers were left to transact any business. The governor and all the Tycoon's officials left on the afternoon of third of February in the steamer Osaka for Yedo. [Translation.] JANUARY 30, 1868. SIR: As has been stated to you in personal conferences, his Highness the Tycoon has taken great trouble and used his honest endeavors to bring about a reformation of the constitution of our government. The maintainers of Matsdaira Shuri No Daibu (Satsuma) have, however, opposed him in the most violent and arbitrary manner. His Highness therefore addressed two memorials to the Mikado, and having resolved to go up to Kioto, had lost no time in dispatching the first portion of his retinue. On the 27th instant, as they were on the point of proceeding by the Toba road, their progress was, without any reason whatever, obstructed by the retainers of Shuri No Daibu, who fired upon them. A battle ensued, in which neither side gained any great advantage, but a false proclamation of the Mikado has now been issued, tending to excite the other clans and to add greatly to the strength of their own rebellious position. The forces of the government have suffered a slight reverse, and the rebels appear to be gradually advancing. The greatest possible efforts are being made to repel and drive them off, but it is to be feared that they may attack this place. We shall of course do our best to afford you protection under the circumstances, but we beg you at the same time to take your own measures for the protection of your national flag. We desire at this juncture to afford you especial proofs of our friendly spirit, and wo think it hardly necessary to remark that the continuance of amicable relations is an object of mutual desire. In making known to you the present state of affairs, we are, with respect and consideration, His Excellency R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, ITAKURA IGA NO KAMI. Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 8.1 LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Less than one week has elapsed since the date of my last dispatch, yet events of grave importance have transpired within that time. On the 4th instant, at about 21 p. m., some troops of the Prince of Matsdaira Bezen No Kami, a Daimio, in alliance with those supporting the Mikado, were passing through the street leading from Hiogo, at the rear of the foreign concession, towards Osaka. They had been met on the street, in Hiogo, by several American and English officers, and were reported as ugly in looks and uncivil in demeanor. The land prepared for the foreign settlement is a large plain or square, graded and levelled, some four hundred yards in width and six hundred in length. This road leads along the rear of it, and is the continuation of a thickly populated street, upon which, in the Japanese town, those foreigners now residing here have rented, temporarily, buildings for business purposes and residences. Near the corner where this road leaves that populated street, and reaches the plain, two Frenchmen attempted to pass across the procession from one side to the other of the road, when one of the men of the troops, armed with a lance, struck him in the side, while another one attempted to lance his comrade; the thrust, however, was parried by his hand, in which he received a slight wound. Immediately, the officer who seemed to be in command of the detachment (numbering about one hundred and fifty or two hundred men) dismounted from his horse, gave an order in Japanese, and the troops, most of whom were armed with Enfield rifles, commenced an indiscriminate fire upon all the foreigners in sight, and at the flags, which were flying at the American, English, Italian, and Prussian legations across this square. Immediately there was a general flight of all foreigners towards the custom-house, occupied as legations by myself and the representatives of Italy and Prussia. The English minister and Captain Stanhope of the English navy hap pened to be near the Japanese, and were compelled to fly across the foreign concession, many balls passing in close proximity to them. The Prussian and Italian ministers, together with Commanders J. B. Creighton, of the Oneida, and Earl English, of the Iroquois, had left me but a few moments before, and were passing toward this road, in the direction of the flying bullets, while I was standing on the second-story verandah of the legation looking at the troops as they marched along. They, of course, immediately returned towards me, and as all the foreigners were flying in the same direction, we were in direct line, about four hundred yards from the fire. Several balls struck the building, and many more passed in uncomfortable proximity. I had a guard of but ten marines that had been kindly furnished me by Commanders Creighton and English; immediately I ordered them out, and, following across the square with them, under command of Midshipman Emory, directed a fire at the troops. Some volleys were fired before the English legation guard, composed of about fifty of the soldiers of the 9th English regiment, were out, one-half under the direction of Sir Harry Parkes, following to support the American marines in their pursuit of the Japanese; the other half picketing the street from Hiogo to prevent the arrival of any more of the troops of Bezen. The French legation guard immediately followed, and in a very few minutes Commanders Creighton and English had landed one hundred and fifty sailors, well armed, and two brass howitzers, The marines of my guard had gone first in pursuit, accompanied by M. Von Brandt, the Prussian chargé d'affaires, and Mr. E. A. Schoyer, my private secretary. I remained behind in the settlement, and on the landing of our sailors dispatched one company of about seventy-five, together with one howitzer, to support the American, English, and French troops in pursuit of the enemy. The other company I divided into three parties, sending one with one howitzer to stop the ingress to the settlement through the Hiogo street, one other to prevent a flank movement upon our right, and the remainder upon the beach at the American consulate, to patrol against an attack in that direction. The English fleet landed about three hundred sailors and marines, with two rifled guns, and the French about fifty. We had in the course of half an hour about five hundred men picketing the street and following the enemy, who retreated, threw away their baggage, dispersed, and took to the hills. Several volleys of musketry were fired at them, some of which were returned, but I fear none of the Japanese were killed; and if any were wounded they were carried off. We found quantities of Japanese baggage, medicine chests, and other articles of no value; and three small brass howitzers, easily carried by one man, were picked up by some of the sailors or soldiers on their return. There were in the port of Hiogo some steamers belonging to different Daimios of Japan and to the Japanese government. The representatives of France, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, Prussia, and myself, immediately held a conference and unanimously agreed to ask the naval commanders present to take possession of and hold these steamers for the present, to prevent any hostile demonstration by them, either here or elsewhere. There were in the port the United States steamers Oneida and Iroquois, the English iron-clad Ocean, and two gunboats, and the French corvette Laplace. The naval commanders, at the request of the representatives, on the morning of the 5th, undertook the defense of the settlement, and erected earthworks and batteries, landing abont ten guns and howitzers, and in all about six hundred marines and sailors. |