SIR: In accordance with the orders of the Sôsai, we beg to forward to you draft of the proclamation which is to be notified, in accordance with the arrangement made with you, throughout the country and exhibited on the public notice boards for the information of Japanese subjects, respecting the infliction of penalties on persons guilty of violence towards foreigners. We have, &c., HIGASHI KUZE SAKI NO SHOSHO. His Excellency Sir HARRY S. PARKES, K. C. B., §°¤., §'c., &c. [Inclosure.] It having been decreed, in consequence of the late reformation by which the monar chical government is restored, and in order to the maintenance of just principles by the imperial court, that his Majesty should have relations with foreign countries, the imperial court will direct those relations, and will fulfill the treaties in accordance with the rules of international law. It is therefore ordered that the whole nation do obey his Majesty's will, and act in accordance therewith. All persons in future guilty of murdering foreigners, or of committing any acts of violence towards them, will be not only acting in opposition to his Majesty's express orders, and be the cause of national misfortune, but also committing the heinous offense of causing the national dignity and good faith to suffer in the eyes of the treaty powers, with whom his Majesty has declared himself bound by relations of amity. Such offenders shall be punished in proportion to the gravity of the offense, their names, if they be Samurai, being erased from the roll. And it is hereby rigidly decreed that all persons shall obey this imperial order and abstain from all such acts of violence. MARCH 28, 1868. Translated by Ernest Satow. No. 37.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith No. 1, copy of a public notice issued by the Japanese acting governor of Hiogo in regard to the circulation of the Mexican dollar at that port, and No. 2, copy of another public notice granting the concession to foreign merchants to lease or erect buildings in the northern part of Hiogo, called Kobé, situated in close proximity to the site selected for the foreign settlement at that port, which, owing to the present disturbances in this country, will necessarily have to remain incompletely prepared for foreign occupation for some time. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of Slate, Washington, D. C. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that a notification having been issued by the government to all Japanese subjects that the Mexican dollar is to pass current at the rate of three bus per dollar, in future there will be no difficulty whatever in its circulation at this rate in mercantile transactions between foreigners and Japanese. In this relation I have further been instructed by my government to inform you that their intention of changing dollars at this port at the rate of three bus for the future, instead of at the rate at which they have hitherto been exchanged, was represented to the ministers of France, England, and Holland by members of the Mikado's government at Kioto, on the 26th instant, and that this intention was approved by the said three ministers. With respect, ITO SHUNSKE. [Translation.] MARCH 30, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with an arrangement concluded at Kioto on the 26th instant, between the Mikado's government and the representatives of France, England, and Holland, foreigners and Japanese may in future make arrangements between themselves, and at their own convenience, for leasing land or houses at this port; and that having purchased houses, foreigners are at liberty to take them down and erect others themselves within the following boundaries, namely, from the Ikuta-gawa on the east to the Uji-Kawa on the west, and from the hills on the north to the beach on the south. From this arrangement, however, must be excepted the concession ground prepared under the convention of May, 1867, for the use of foreigners, and also a strip of land of one hundred feet in width along the whole beach to the west of the settlement, which must be preserved as a public thoroughfare. This line of beach will be gradually cleared of the timber at present placed there, and foreigners should also remove the few temporary constructions they have recently put up on the said beach line as soon as they are called upon to do so by the Japanese authorities through their respective consuls. When a foreigner and Japanese have made an agreement for leasing ground or purchasing houses within these limits, each agreement must be reported by the respective parties to the Japanese authorities and to the consul of the nation concerned, in order that the agreement may be sealed and registered on both sides, as a proof of validity. All foreigners occupying ground or houses within the said limits will be liable to the payment of the same municipal charges, or government land tax, as are paid by Jap anese. With respect, ITO SHUNSKE. No. 38.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The Daimio's forces referred to in my dispatch No. 32, of the 2d instant, forming the advance of the Mikado's army, have slowly marched toward Yedo, taking possession, as they proceeded, of the various stations on the Tokaido or main road, the Tycoon's officials in charge quietly retiring before them. The first men of this advance are reported to have arrived in Yedo on the 5th instant; others soon followed also by the other roads, and their number this day in that capital is variously estimated at from three to ten thousand men. They belong to the Daimios of Satsuma, Choshin, Bezen, Omura, and a few others of inferior rank, and are scattered all over that city. The Tycoon remains in the temple of Wuyeno; he is said to have a strong and well-appointed guard for his protection. Shortly after the arrival of the first men of this advance the people began moving away; the women and children were being sent into the country. The behavior of these first men is reported to have been overbearing in the extreme; they helped themselves freely to whatever they needed without paying for such purchases. The people, on making complaint to their authorities, were assured that "all would soon be well;" their losses were properly authenticated, and claims filed in due form. The impres sion prevailed that as soon as the Mikado's envoy should make his appearance with the main body of his forces a satisfactory arrangement of some kind would soon be arrived at. But the envoy has now for nearly two weeks remained in the castle of Futshu, in the province of Swuaga, some seventy miles from Yedo, and at some twenty miles to the westward of the Hacone Pass, and it is surmised that the arrangement in contemplation in Yedo, the furthermost point from his base of opera tions, might not be satisfactory to him, and that he prefers to await developments on his own side of that Hacone Pass. From a good source I learned that two of this envoy's lieutenants arrived in Yedo, and that a demand had been made on the Tycoon to surrender his castle, an immense inclosure of some six miles in circumference, and situated in the center of the city; further, to surrender his army, his navy, and his treasury, his own person to be placed in charge of the Prince of Bezen, and all his own people to vacate their houses and to withdraw to certain named outskirts of Yedo. These extravagant demands have not been complied with, and as yet no collision has taken place. The people continued sending their women and children away until the 10th instant, when, during the afternoon of that day, word was passed that there would be no fighting in Yedo, and that there was no cause for alarm. This change must have been caused by the intelligence brought by the Mia Sama, a relative of the Mikado and a friend of the Tycoon, who, on behalf of the latter, proceeded to Kioto some time ago, and whose return to Yedo took place on the next day, the 11th instant. As soon as it became known, however, that the Mia Sama, or high priest, did not intend to remain in Yedo, but to proceed northward without delay, the removal from that city by the people became greater than ever. Should this continue at the present rate, there will be scarcely any one left in Yedo within a few days but men, and it is not unreasonable to expect that there will then be an outbreak. From Kioto and Osaka rumors reached here that the Mikado had been carried off by the Prince of Kshü and confederates. This is the same prince, a member of the Tokugawa family, in whose favor the Ty coon intended to abdicate. This rumor is not credited, though it reached here from an apparently reliable source. Something, however, has no doubt occurred in that part of Japan, as the rumors of frequent fighting in the vicinity of Kioto have come in during the last three days persistently and repeatedly, and it is not improbable that the evident hesitation of the envoy to march on Yedo may be caused by the state of affairs in his rear, which is reported as deplorable and disorganized in the extreme. The foregoing is intelligence received through sources as reliable as can be found in this country, and, of course not official, as there is apparently no government with whom any intercourse can be carried on. The governors of this port are still at their post, and in Yedo there are local authorities directing, only as far as known, the municipal affairs in that city. The arrival of the Stonewall is now daily looked for. The Monocacy and Iroquois are both in port. No intelligence from Hiogo and Nagasaki has been received here for some time. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. No. 39.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: In supplement to my dispatch No. 32, of the 2d instant, informing you that with the view of preventing large bodies of armed men from visiting this town in the present unsettled state of this country, a system of passports had been agreed upon, I now have the honor to transmit inclosure No. 1, copy of a resolution unanimously adopted by the foreign representatives, having for its object the better enforcement of the system referred to, by preventing the landing of armed Japanese along the water front of Yokohama. I transmit inclosure No. 2, copy of my letter to Commander Carter, the senior naval officer, in pursuance of that resolution, and No. 3, copy of his reply. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. YOKOHAMA, April 17, 1868. The undersigned representatives, having this day met, unanimously adopted the fol lowing resolution: Resolved, That in consequence of the arrival in this harbor of Japanese steamers carry. ing large numbers of troops, the naval and military officers of the respective forces be requested to take, as soon as possible, such measures as are necessary to prevent the landing of armed Japanese along the water front of Yokohama. L. ROCHES. HARRY S. PARKES. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH. M. VON BRANDT. D. DE GRAEFF VON POLSBROECK. Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Commodore Carter. No. 48.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN JAPAN, SIR: At a meeting of the representatives of the treaty powers, held this afternoon, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Resolved, That in consequence of the arrival in this harbor of Japanese steamers carrying large numbers of troops, the naval and military officers of the respective forces be requested to take, as soon as possible, such measures as are necessary to prevent the landing of armed Japanese along the water front of Yokohama." Will you please co-operate with your colleagues in carrying out this resolution? I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Commander S. P. CARTER, R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan. Senior U. S. Naval Officer Commanding U. S. Steamer Monocacy. UNITED STATES STEAMER MONOCACY, Yokohama, April 18, 1868. GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the 17th instant, advising me, as senior officer of the United States naval force in this port, of the resolu tion unanimously adopted by the representatives of the treaty powers at a meeting held by them on that day. In compliance with your wish I met the senior officers of the English, French, and Prussian vessels this afternoon on board her Britannic Majesty's ship Rodney, and have the honor to inclose a copy of the resolutions adopted in the conference. The guard of United States marines will be moved to the hatoba, in front of the custom-house, at once, or as soon as the Japanese guard is detailed for the posts, as proposed. I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant, General R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, United States Minister Resident in Japan. S. P. CARTER, The undersigned, at a conference held on board her Britannic Majesty's ship Rodney, having had under consideration the proposal of the foreign representatives, that measures shall be conjointly arranged to prevent the landing of armed men from the Japanese steamers arriving at Yokohama, resolve as follows: 1. That passes should be granted to the commanders of Japanese vessels arriving at this anchorage similar to those given to the governor of Kanagawa. 2. That the native authorities be solicited to station a guard at the French and English hatobas, with instructions to prevent the landing of armed Japanese who are unprovided with passes. 3. That this native guard shall be supported at the French hatoba by the marines stationed at the French hospital, and at the English hatoba by the American marines stationed at No. 7 guard. The above regulations appear to the undersigned sufficient for the present. They cannot suggest measures that would completely prevent the landing of armed Japanese along the whole course of the Bund without assuming an aggressive attitude. HENRY KEPPOL, Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-chief of H. B. M. Naval Forces. SIR: With the double view of testing the strength of the authority of the Mikado's government in this part of Japan, and of promoting Japanese homogeneity in so far as foreign interests are concerned, the foreign representatives agreed upon addressing a letter to the government at Kioto, asking for the appointment of responsible agents with whom the business of this port could be conducted. I transmit inclosures No. 1, copy of this letter, and No. 2, copy of the reply, announcing that the appointment as requested had been made. At the request of his colleagues, the British minister addressed a letter to Mr. Mitford, the second secretary of her Britannic Majesty's legation, then at Osaka, instructing him to deliver this letter and transmit the reply. A copy of which letter is herewith transmitted, inclosure No. 3. I also transmit inclosure No. 4, copy of a letter to the senior English naval officer, asking him to send a ship to Hiogo for the conveyance of |