Charles Francis Adams to Edward Stanley, August 20, 1866

Mr. Adams to Lord Stanley

My Lord: I have the honor to apprise your lordship that from information received by my government, through Mr. Portman, the acting chargé d’affaires of the United States in Japan, it appears that on the 13th of April the authorities of that country addressed an application to him, soliciting the assent of the President, as representing one of the four powers, parties to the convention of 1864, to an extension of the time designated for the payment of the three remaining instalments of the indemnity therein provided.

To that application an answer has been made by the Secretary of State, dated the 18th of July, in a note, a copy of which I have the honor to submit to your lordship for the information of her Majesty’s government. I am instructed further to add that my government, desirous in its action of co-operating in the course determined on by the other parties to the treaty, will be happy to learn the decision of her Majesty’s government, should any have been arrived at, upon the question thus presented.

I pray your lordship to accept, &c., &c.