expect to hear of the success of their operations. Until, however, that takes place, we request that your countrymen will abstain from proceeding to Neegata. HIGASHI KUZE CHENJIO. His Excellency R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister of the United States. Notification. The undersigned hereby publishes for general information the accompanying dispatch received from her Majesty's minister, relative to the state of insecurity still prevailing at the port of Neegata. BRITISH CONSULATE, LACHLAN FLETCHER, Kanagawa, June 25, 1868. YOKOHAMA, June 25, 1868. SIR: I am informed that the consuls of Italy and Prussia at this port have been instructed by the representatives of those powers to make known to the Italian and Prussian subjects that they can proceed, with the approval of the said representatives, to Neegata, to carry on, from the 15th proximo, whatever trade the treaties admit of, under certain risks. As the knowledge of these instructions may lead to inquiry among British subjects, I have to direct you to apprise the latter that, having been lately officially informed that Neegata is at present the scene of a civil contest between the government of the Mikado and the Daimio Aidzu, I am not yet at liberty to change the opinion I have already expressed in my notification of the 28th March last, as to the insecurity which may be found to prevail at that port. I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, HARRY S. PARKES. No. 55.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 29th of May, No. 54, by which I learn that some Japanese subjects were recently shipped with duress, or compulsion, as laborers, under form of a contract to work on plantations in the Hawaiian Islands, by a person claiming to be a citizen of the United States. I learn, further, that you have censured this proceeding, and have given notice of your disapprobation thereof to the Japanese government. You further inform me that you promulgated an order or regulation on the 26th of May last, whereby you declared that the act of Congress to prohibit the coolie trade, approved February 19, 1862, and which was framed in regard to China, was thereby made applicable to Japan. The spirit in which these proceedings were taken, is approved by the President. This department, however, upon examining the subject, has come to the conclusion that the order or regulation which you have thus promulgated is without sufficient foundation in law, and is, therefore, invalid and ineffectual. You will, therefore, be under the necessity of rescinding that regulation. On the other hand, to provide a remedy against the newly discovered evil, application will be made to Congress to amend the act of February 19, 1862, so as to extend and apply its provisions. The result of this application will be communicated to you. A copy of the existing resolution of Congress on the subject of the coolie trade is herewith inclosed, together with a copy of the circular of this department of the 17th of January, 1867. SIR: Your dispatch of the 26th of May, No. 52, has been received. It communicates the fact, which is announced by the press in Japan, that the men of Yedo who were executed at Saki for the murder of eleven unarmed Frenchmen, in violation of treaties, have been canonized in Japan. You regard this information as authentic, although you express the belief that the Mikado's government is not wilfully guilty of canonizing Japanese for the murder of foreigners, and you further express the opinion that the proceeding was the work of some high priest or functionary, which the Mikado's government is powerless to prevent. The proceeding thus brought to the notice of this government is one to be deprecated and regretted. It might well be the subject of protest and remonstrance by the representatives of the treaty powers, but occasions for protests and remonstrances are so frequent, that to resort to that form of proceeding always involves a question of political expediency. You will exercise your sound discretion, in conjunction with the representatives of the other treaty powers, in determining whether to make such a protest in the present instance, or to let the affair pass away in silence. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Esq., &c., &c., &c. No. 57.] Mr. Seward to Mr. Van Valkenburgh. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of the 25th of May, No. 50, in which paper you have brought down to that date your account of the revolutionary proceedings which have taken place in Japan. The paper encourages the hope that a settlement between the belligerents may be made at an early day on a basis honorable to the contending factions. Every friend of humanity, in or out of Japan, must surely desire so auspicious a result. Your proceeding in relinquishing the police of Yokohama to the Mikado's authority is approved. I am, sir, your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Esq., &c., &c., &c. No. 74.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith No. 1, copy of a memorandum of joint resolutions unanimously adopted by the foreign representatives for the safety of Yokohama, and, No. 2, copy of the resolutions of the commanding officers now in this station in reply. Higashi Kuze Chiujio readily admitted the expediency of the measure, and I now have the pleasure to inform you that the four guard-houses required were promptly ordered and are now being constructed by him. 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. UNITED STATES FLAG-SHIP PISCATAQUA, (1st rate,) ASIATIC SQUADRON, Yokohama, July 13, 1868. The under-mentioned commanding officers having met this day to take into consideration the suggestion of the ministers of the foreign nations at Yokohama to establish four posts for the protection of foreigners in the settlement, are of opinion that this can be effected by establishing a post of one non-commissioned officer and ten men at the northern extremity of the street called Honcho Dori, to be furnished by the French troops. Second: A post of one officer and fifteen men at the police station opposite the custom-house, to be furnished by the British. Third: A post of one officer and fifteen men towards the center of the main street, to be furnished by the Dutch. Fourth: A post of an officer and twenty men by the American legation, to be furnished by the Americans. Each of these posts will have a double sentry, and will send patrols at uncertain hours during the day through the main thoroughfares of the town. As soon as intimation has been received that the guard-houses have been provided, the above mentioned posts will be established. S. C. ROWAN. THOS. DE CHALLIE. B. RADFORD NORMAN, Commander-in-chief British Garrison. J. VANGOGH. Memorandum. At a meeting held at the French legation this 8th day of July, 1868, between the representatives of France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Prussia, and the United States of America, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: 1. That owing to the present disturbed state of affairs, the undersigned are of opinion that due regard for the safety of foreign residents at Yokohama renders it necessary that foreign guards should be posted at the following four points, namely: the police station, opposite the custom-house, the center of the main street, called Honcho Dori, and at the northern extremity of the same street. 2. That the duties of these guards should be confined to those of assisting any for eigners who may be attacked, or who may apply to them for protection, and generally, also, in observing the state of the quarter in which they are stationed. Patrols might pass for this purpose between the different posts, but they should not interfere with armed or other Japanese, except in defence of foreigners. It is proposed that guard-houses shall be provided at all the four points above named, and that the Japanese authorities shall be invited to co-operate with the undersigned in the execution of these arrangements. HARRY S. PARKES, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary. COMTE DA LA TOUR, Envoy Extraordinary, Ministev Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of Italy. MAX OUTREY, Minister Plenipotentiary of France. R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States. M. V. BRANDT, Chargé d'Affaires of Prussia. D. DE GRAEFF VAN POLSBROEK, His Netherland Majesty's Political Agent and Consul General in Japan. No. 75.] Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Yokohama, July 22, 1868. SIR: The Italian and Prussian representatives having determined, as reported in my dispatch No. 69, of the 13th instant, to insist upon the opening of Neegata, for the purpose of preserving silk-worm eggs, against the wishes of the Mikado's authorities, I now have the honor to inform you that their intention was carried out, and that several vessels have since cleared for that port. I transmit herewith inclosure No. 1, copy of the Prussian chargé d'affaires' letter to the minister for foreign affairs, covering copy of his instructions to the Prussian consul. The letter and instructions of the Italian minister are identical. I also transmit No. 2, copy of my letter to our consul at this port on the subject. It can only be hoped, for the sake of the important interests involved, that those who ventured to this new field of enterprise may be successful, and that, in the present disturbed state of that part of Japan where fighting is said almost daily to be going on, the presence of foreigners may not lead to an increase of the existing complications. I further transmit No. 3, copy of a letter from Hegashi Kuze Chiuijio declaring it to be the intention of the Mikado's government to make Osaka a port of entry, and to open Yedo as a city only. Until tranquillity has been restored, and trade shall have revived, it is not probable that such legislation will lead to any practical result, and I am inclined, therefore, to postpone the discussion of those measures to a future and more favorable time. 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. [Translation.] YOKOHAMA, June 24, 1868. At the conference which their excellencies the ministers for foreign affairs held with the representatives of the six treaty powers, on the 6th instant, their excellencies declared that the government of his Majesty the Mikado did not intend to object to the opening of Neegata, which had been agreed upon in the treaties and conventions concluded between the foreign representatives and the government of the Taikoon. Their excellencies added, at the same time, that they wished to get some further information on this subject from Yedo and Kioto, which they would hasten to communicate to the foreign representatives at the latest in fifteen days. As the undersigned has not received any communications on this subject from their excellencies, he must assume that they have nothing to add to the declarations made in the conference of the 6th instant. Therefore the undersigned has the honor to enclose to their excellencies copy of a letter which he addresses to his consul, and in which he communicates to this official the conditions upon which Prussian subjects may go to Ne-egata. The undersigned hopes that their excellencies will regard this letter as a new proof of his wish to avoid everything that might be disagreeable to the government of his Majesty the Mikado, and to obtain for the interests of the country he has the honor to represent in Japan only what is absolutely necessary. With respect and consideration, VON BRANDT, YOKOHAMA, June 24, 1868. By my letter of the 30th March I instructed you not to allow Prussian subjects to go to Ne-egata, opened de jure from the 1st April, 1868. The reasons which at that time dictated this measure still exist in part, but other reasons of a higher interest render it now very desirable that Prussian subjects should be allowed to go to Ne-egata in a regular and legitimate way, at least for some months of this year. The troubles in the country around Yedo render it more than doubtful if the requisite quantity of silk-worm eggs will be brought to Yokohama, and new facilities should therefore be given to those who trade in this article. The minister for foreign affairs having declared to me that the government of his Majesty the Mikado has not the intention of presenting any opposition to Prussian subjects visiting Ne-egata, you will inform Prussian subjects that his Majesty's authori ties have no further reason to prevent them going to Ne-egata from the 15th July of this year, and exercising there such trade as the treaties admit of. It is to be hoped that the government, also, in whose hands Ne-egata will be on the 15th July, will present no opposition to these visits from Prussian subjects. It will, however, be your duty to inform Prussian subjects that it will not be possible to guarantee to them at Ne-egata the same security they enjoy at the other ports of Japan. A. REIS, Esq., M. VON BRANDT. His Majesty's Acting Consul. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: Information having been received by me that the consuls of Italy and Prussia are authorized to make known to the subjects of those powers that they can proceed to Ne-egata after the 15th July next, for the purpose of carrying on such trade as is permitted by the treaties, I deem it my duty to inform you that the Japanese ministers for foreign affairs have communicated to me the fact that a state of war is existing at Ne-egata, and therefore I deem it unavoidable at this moment to declare that port opened to American citizens. As soon, however, as it is deemed safe for the purpose of trade I shall give you further information. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, General J. STAHEL, United States Consul, Kanagawa. I have the honor to inform you that it has been decided on our part to make Osaka a port of entry, as soon as an agreement to that effect shall have been made with the foreign representatives. I also have to notify you that, even if the representatives should desire it now or hereafter, Yedo cannot become a port of entry, and that it is intended to open it as a city. The 28th day of the 5th month, (17th July.) HIGASHI KUZE CHIRIJIO. His Excellency R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States, &c., &c., &c. |