Bingham to Hamilton Fish, January 18, 1877

No. 188. Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.

Sir: Referring to my No. 472, of date the 11th ultimo, in relation to the promised protection of American citizens and their rights on the Bonin Islands, I regret to say that it appears by a complaint recently made by a citizen of the United States to Mr. Yan Buren, that his rights of property, and also those of other citizens of the United States in those islands, have been violated by Japanese officials. I have addressed a communication to his excellency Mr. Terashima on the subject, in which I request him to protect our citizens in those islands in their rights of person and property. I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the dispatch of the consul-general transmitting the complaint of Mr. Nye, a copy of which is also inclosed, together with a copy of my dispatch to Mr. Terashima above referred to. (Inclosures 1, 2, and 3.)

I have, &c.,

Mr. Nye to Mr. Bingham.

Sir: I wish to call your attention to some proceedings on the part of the Japanese Government at Port Lloyd, Bonin Islands. I am informed by good authority that the Japanese who went down to the Bonin Islands, per Taikei-Maru, in December, 1876, landed and took possession of a place called Akei. This land was purchased by Benjamin Pease, from a Frenchman named Louis Lascelles, more than five years ago. The deed was made out in his wife’s name, and the same is recorded in the United States consulate, Yokohama. In the summer of 1873, I purchased the schooner Tori, for $3,200 (Thomas S. Stevens owning one-half with me), and we formed a partnership, or agreement, with Benjamin Pease and Metiah Jordan for the purpose of raising stock at Akei, we putting the price of the vessel against the land, and agreed that each should hold one-quarter of the vessel and One-quarter of the land, and whatever profit or loss should be shared in the same way. The same year we brought seventeen head of cattle from Ascension, in the schooner Tori, aud placed them on Akei, and built a stock-yard to keep them in at night. There was a meeting in August or September, 1874, to settle boundary of lands and other disputes, which were all settled, except one,, by general consent; the boundary of Akei on the north was called Ugly Gulch, and the southwest side of a large hill on which an outlook had been placed to watch the cattle. This gave Akei a frontage on the water of over half a mile and extending back half-way over the island, widening as it extended back. The place has always been in charge of one of the interested parties until Susan Pease (widow of Captain Pease) was told to leave by the Japanese, and also requested the cattle to be taken away, which was to be done when the Taikei-Maru left, as soon as weather permitted, as the cattle have to be made to swim around the headland and placed on other people’s premises, and kept at our expense. I am also informed that the houses have been taken down and the banana-trees, which had cost a great deal of labor to plant and bring into bearing condition, some of the plants having been brought from Ascension. We had also planted about two hundred cocoa-nut trees. All the land around the harbor of Port Lloyd is held and improved by some one, and the Japanese could not have a landing or a place to build unless they took land belonging to those who held and improved it, and as they have taken Akei I pray that we may be compensated for our loss and for the expense we have incurred. We have always had to pay duty on all shell and oil we have brought from the Bonin Islands, and to pay export duty on all lumber we took down for building purposes. I have some of the receipts now. I have a power of attorney from Susan Pease to act for her. Thomas S. Stevens, Metiah Jordan, and myself are in the employ of the M. B. S. S. Company.

Yours, &c.,