Cowley to John Bigelow, March 23, 1866

Lord Cowley to Mr. Bigelow.

Sir: Sir Henry Parkes, her Majesty’s envoy in Japan, has reported to her Majesty’s government that a sum of $500,000, being the second instalment of the indemnity due by the Japanese government under the convention of the 22d of October, 1864, has been received by the Oriental Bank at Yokohama, which holds it at the disposal of the representatives of the four powers.

Sir H. Parkes observes, that calculating three months from the close of the Japanese ninth month, which fell on the 20th of August, 1865, when the Japanese government chose to declare the first instalment to be payable, the second instalment became due on the 17th or 20th November, according to whether the date be determined by the Japanese or foreign calendar.

The delay which has occurred in the payment is attributable, Sir Henry Parkes says, in some degree, to the absence of the representatives at Osacca, and also to the time required to raise the requisite sum by the conversion of a large quantity of copper cash, the sale of which in China has been undertaken by the Oriental Bank on account of the Tycoon’s government.

Her Majesty’s minister in Japan and his colleague, knowing that the Japanese ministers were acting in good faith in respect to the payment of the second instalment, did not think it necessary to raise serious objections to the delay.

I have now been instructed to propose that this second instalment should be remitted to Europe in conformity with the arrangement suggested in the letter which Mr. Ellis addressed to you on the 19th of December of last year, in regard to the first payment.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,