De la Riva Aguero to De Long, November 21, 1872

Peruvian minister for foreign affairs to Mr. De Long.

I have had the honor of receiving your excellency’s important dispatch, dated 5th of September last, by which you were pleased to make me acquainted with the proceedings of the kencho against the captain of the Peruvian ship Maria Luz, inclosing at the same time copies of the judgment rendered by that tribunal, and of some documents connected with that affair.

Although there had been received some notice in this department of the unpleasant incidents that had arisen from the said ship being forced to cast anchor in the waters of Yokohama, your excellency’s dispatch, by its zofficial character and the importance accruing to it from your excellency’s eminent position, was welcome to gratify my government’s urgent want of learning this affair from authentic and official data.

While I beg to render my thanks to your excellency for the warm interest you have taken in the above-mentioned incident, not only in forwarding us those data, but what is more still, in taking official action toward the Japanese government with a view to being recognized as Minister of Peru, I am anxiously waiting for the answer that government will have made to your excellency’s letter on that subject.

Considering, besides, that there is no reason why the Japanese government should be prevented from acknowledging your excellency, since the representation of this country had been recommended to your excellency long before the Maria Luz affair, my government is very well founded in anticipating that your excellency will have come in a position to be able in that emergency of giving the republic the very important support of your cultivated opinion, of influencing the judgments and resolutions of the Japanese governments.

At all events, even depending upon the kind support of your excellency and that of the Government of the United States, by whom the management of Peruvian affairs was recommended to your excellency, my government expects that your excellency will soon have an opportunity of manifesting your friendly interest for Peru. I allude to the shortly-expected arrival at your port of the Peruvian legation, which was ready to leave when the news of the Maria Luz affair reached here.

The main object of the said legation is to enter into relations of amity and compass treaties of commerce and navigation with China and Japan.

This mission is absolutely one of peace, and they carry the most equitable instructions in view of a friendly settlement of the difficulties which lately arose in Yokohama.

My government have no doubt that your excellency, in accordance with the previous recommendations of the Government of the United States, will exert your influence with the Japanese authorities, not only to secure for the Peruvian legation such a kind reception as they are entitled to on account of their errand, but also to see that due justice be done them in the case of the Maria Luz.

It is more than probable that by this time the voice of reason has made itself heard in the councils of the Japanese government.

Considering the protest of the majority of the consular body against the decision of the kencho, and the no less legitimate than effective influence which is morally exercised by the representatives of the United States on the Japanese government, a mere suggestion (indication) wall, perhaps, be sufficient to induce them to do us justice. If this be so to happen, one more motive will be added to those which Peru already has of being grateful to the United States.

I have, &c.,