Bingham to Terashima Munenor, October 8, 1874

No. 363. Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for your information, a copy of a notification by the Japanese government to Chinese subjects resident in Japan (inclosure 1) informing them that in the event of war between Japan and China they shall not be harmed by this government unless they engage in trade contraband of war, act as spies, or do other injury to this country. I have also the honor to inclose a copy of another notification (inclosure 2) which has reference to the Japanese expedition to Formosa, the occurrences there between the Japanese forces, and the efforts at negotiation by the ministers sent to China by Japan, &c. It is to be observed in this last notification that while it is said that the Emperor desires a peaceful result by negotiation, it is clearly stated therein that preparations are being made for war in the event of a failure to settle the difficulties by negotiation. A notice appearing in the papers that Mr. Wasson, the American citizen mentioned in my dispatches of April last, was recently in Nagasaki, awaiting orders to report to General Saigo, the Japanese commander in Formosa, I took occasion to request the minister for foreign affairs, by a dispatch of date the 1st instant, (inclosure 3,) to notify Mr. Wasson of the fact hitherto communicated to you, that he (Wasson) was detached from that service and should not proceed to Formosa. I have the honor to further inform you that in the latter part of September I received from Mr. Seward, at Shanghai, a dispatch of date the 1st ultimo, inclosing a note identically agreed upon by the foreign consuls at Shanghai for the protection of foreign commerce, &c., in the event of hostilities between Japan and China, (inclosures 4 and 5.) To this communication I replied in a letter (inclosure 6) dated the 2oth ultimo. 1 respectfully submit the same for your consideration, hoping that my action may meet your approval, and especially desiring your instructions in the matter. I have this evening received a communication from the minister for foreign affairs asking me what Chinese, if any, are in the service of this legation, and requesting me to notify him in future if any Chinese shall be employed at the legation or discharged therefrom. To this I have replied that there are no Chinese in the employ of the legation at present, and that should any be employed therein or discharged therefrom in the future I shall inform him.

I am, &c.,

Draught of an identical note to be sent by each consul to his ministerial representative at Peking.

Sir: The probability of a war between China and Japan having of late attracted much attention, and the possibility of such a contingency not by any means having passed over, it has occurred to myself and some of my colleagues to consider what would be the position of the foreign settlements of Shanghai in such an unfortunate event, and how far it would be expedient to adopt such precautions as may render that position a comparatively safe one. It does not need any extraordinary foresight to predict that Shanghai, from its importance as a commercial center, and from its proximity to one of the few arsenals which China possesses, will become a focus of attack in case of hostilities being declared, and in that event the foreign settlements will be at once exposed to extreme danger, inasmuch as they stand (that portion called British more especially) exactly in a quarter where any outworks necessary to cover the city from hostile approach by the river must be constructed.

No move has been as yet made by the Chinese toward the utilization of this strategical position, but they may at any moment see fit to occupy it, and should they do so, and hostilities supervene, the consequences to neutral life and property may be very serious. The conclusion appears to myself and colleagues obvious, that, if such a sacrifice can be in any way averted, no effort ought to be left untried to avert it; and the alternative we would venture to propose is that advantage should be taken of the presence in Peking of a Japanese minister plenipotentiary, to negotiate for the neutralization of the ground covered by the foreign settlements, and a stipulation that nothing shall be done on either side to endanger the safety of the residents therein or of the property in their keeping. The Tautai of this place, it is believed, will be quite willing to give his consent to this proposition, and I beg to submit it to your excellency, in conjunction with such of my colleagues as are more directly interested, and each of whom has addressed an identical note to his minister, in the hope that the scheme may meet with your favorable consideration. I may refer here to the 26th article of the United States treaty with China, which provides for the immunity of American commerce in case of war, and to suggest that such further negotiation may be undertaken with the Japanese as will render this provision operative as far as they are concerned; and, in this connection, it may be mentioned that the Chinese are likely to obstruct the Woosung Bar in case of war, unless some means are adopted to prevent them taking this course. Various and serious questions, it must be confessed, will be involved in the adoption of the proposed measure; but as these must of necessity occur to your mind, and their discussion scarcely comes within my province, I prefer to submit the simple proposition, free of all observation or remark.

My colleagues agree with me that it is also beyond our province to propose that any arrangements arrived at shall embrace all the foreign settlements in China and Japan, but it may not be amiss to point out how obviously desirable such an extension would be.