De Long to Mr. De Long, March 9, 1873

No. 254. Mr. De Long to Mr. Fish.

Sir: I have the honor to advise you that on the 27th instant the legation from Peru, headed by Señor Aurelio Garcia y Garcia, arrived here per the American mail. The day following, his excellency, accompanied by his secretary of legation, J. Federico Elmore, called upon me, and I at once accompanied and introduced them to the several foreign representatives here.

On the next day I accompanied them to Yedo, intending to call with them at the foreign office and introduce them to the ministers, but on our arrival we found it to be a holiday and the office closed.

Knowing Mr. Soyeshima’s earnest desire to meet with the embassy as speedily as possible after its arrival, I went alone to his residence, to learn from him if it would be agreeable for me to call with them there on that day. During my interview with him he advised me of his intention to offer the legation a temporary residence at Enryo Kwan, the imperial chateau in Yedo, reserving only the royal apartments, thus making them for the time being the guests of the government, and also expressed a desire to have them at once call upon him, which we accordingly did. The interview was very pleasant in its nature; a copy of the letter of credence was delivered, the chateau was tendered and accepted, and an audience at an early day requested and promised.

I also tendered to the legation any use they might see proper to make of the legation building in Yedo, placed the services of Mr. N. E. Rice, interpreter for our legation, at their disposition.

Returning from Yedo to Yokohama with Señor Garcia, the question of the Maria Luz case was discussed to some extent by us.

In the course of that conversation I ventured to state to Captain Garcia my opinion, to the effect that if any serious controversy should arise between his government and this upon that subject, Japan would unquestionably have arrayed with her the liveliest sympathies of many of the Christian states; that in the efforts this nation was putting forth to become a civilized power, she carried with her constantly the active assistance of all states having treaty relations with her, and that the foreign representatives at her court had always endeavored to act as a unit in assisting and encouraging her in each labor of reform; that we had all been called upon very frequently to overlook on the part of this government errors and mistakes sometimes amounting to actual grievances; that this action had been taken to prevent casting a chill upon the tide of good feeling for foreign states that had so strongly set in here; that in this great movement in favor of civilization I felt sure his government and himself must feel as lively a sympathy as any other government or representative; that within the last few weeks this government had inaugurated reforms most gratifying to the civilized world—it had repealed its edicts against Christianity, taken down its notifications and proclamations relative to the same, proclaimed rules organizing its judiciary on the basis of courts in Europe and America, and had also offered, upon certain conditions, to open its entire territory freely to foreigners; that in these noble works of reform Mr. Soyeshima had been recognized by the diplomatic corps resident here, as the able and active leader; that, at such a juncture, it must cause inexpressible pain to the civilized world to have anything occur tending to check this noble progress, or to weaken the influence of a minister so able and so liberal as Mr. Soyeshima; that under such circumstances I begged to express the hope that on his part these negotiations would be conducted in a spirit of magnanimity and liberality, overlooking technical faults, in order to preserve undisturbed the spirit of good-feeling now animating this people.

I further stated to him that I had been thus candid with him in order that the direction of my sympathies might not be misunderstood; and further, that he might have a correct understanding of the condition of affairs here at this time.

His excellency was kind enough to hear me through with courtesy and patience, and, after I had concluded, to assure me that all I had said should be maturely considered by him; and also he expressed the liveliest sympathy with the spirit of progress which was prevailing here.

Several days after his excellency’s arrival he delivered to me a formal letter announcing the same. (Inclosure No. 1.)

Also a letter from the Peruvian government, thanking me for my action in representing its interests here. (Inclosure No. 2.)

To the latter I replied on the 2d instant, expressing my willingness to assist this legation in establishing treaty relations with Japan, presenting complete accounts of all expenses that had been incurred in taking charge of the vessel, and tendering her to his excellency; also, agreeable to a verbal request made by him, I inclosed copies of all dispatches, with their in closures, sent by me to his government which had not arrived at Lima prior to his departure. (Inclosure No. 3.)

I beg to advise you that I have not furnished to his excellency copies of any instructions received by me from you, nor copies of any dispatches sent from this legation to you.

Before the sailing of the next mail I will prepare, in order to forward to you, a complete list of such documents as I have furnished him with.

On the 3d instant the minister was received by the Emperor, as he advised me by note of date March 4, (inclosure No. 4,) and at the same time he unofficially furnished me with a copy of his address to the Emperor, (inclosure No. 5,) and also a copy of His Majesty’s reply, (inclosure No. 6.)

On the 5th instant I received from his excellency a dispatch acknowledging the receipt of my note with inclosures, expressing his satisfaction therewith, and also with accounts of the Maria Luz as presented, promising to pay the same and asking me to retain possession of the ship for a short time, (inclosure No. 7.)

On the 8th instant I received another note from him, asking for copies of the correspondence that had passed between this legation and the Japanese government, relative to the establishment of a new court of justice for Kanagawa, and the amendment of the municipal convention of Yokohama. Also for a copy of that convention, and a copy of the dispatch received at this legation in 1867 accepting that convention, (inclosure No. 8.) To which I replied, after first asking the minister for foreign affairs if there was any objection on his part to my complying with this request, and receiving his assurance that there were none, (inclosure No. 9.)

The inclosures with this dispatch are the same as those which I forwarded to you with my No. 446, with the addition of the copy of the convention, and the letter of the Japanese government accepting it in 1867. In this connection I beg leave to advise you of my receipt on the 7th of last February of two dispatches from the Peruvian government, (inclosures Nos. 10 and 11,) to which I replied on the 18th of that month, (inclosure No. 12.) This I believe completes the record of all my correspondence with that government, also with this government, relative to Peruvian interests, and also with the Peruvian legation.

On day before yesterday I met Mr. Soyeshima, who wished to confer with me about the business of the Peruvian embassy.

He appeared somewhat restless at the idea of being detained hereby this business, and being compelled to enter upon the Maria Luz discussion, which had evidently become somewhat distasteful to him. He asked me what course I would recommend him to pursue. In reply I said, “At your conference appointed for to-morrow I would at once offer to conclude a treaty with Peru, upon as favorable terms and conditions as those existing between Japan and other states; after doing which, when the Peruvian minister should mention the Maria Luz business, I would unhesitatingly say to him that the government of Japan never having had any relations with the Peruvian government or its people prior to the arrival of this bark, it must be apparent to him that the Japanese government had no intention or desire to give any offense to the Peruvian government, and stood ready to give him such an assurance; that if the Peruvian minister should claim that the transaction has been illegal, that the interests of private parties had been injured, and prefer a claim for a money indemnity, to treat such claim with respect, notwithstanding however fixed his opinions might be against it, to say to the minister in reply that the Japanese government, in the conduct of the Maria Luz case, had been prompted solely by the desire to do justice and relieve suffering humanity; that it had been guided in its actions by advisers upon whose legal opinions the government placed the greatest credit, yet he stood ready to hear from them any representation they might have to make in proof of the illegality of this proceeding, and would not hesitate, if convinced that any injustice had been done to any of his people, to grant them a proper indemnity; that the discussion of this question was one that could not well be entered upon by him until they had presented their case and he had submitted it to the law-officers of his government for their examination and report; that his intention to leave in a few days for Peking would preclude the possibility of his entering upon that discussion before his return, therefore necessitating such delay or otherwise submitting the matter to his successor in the foreign office.”

Mr. Soyeshima expressed himself entirely satisfied with this expression of opinion.

On the same day I was also called upon by Mr. Garcia, who inquired of me whether I thought it best for him to conduct these negotiations verbally or in writing. I replied that if I was conducting the negotiation I would first ask a conference, and at that conference I would state all of my requests, and learn the views of this government in reply. Then, if it should occur that some were assented to and others not, he would understand to what points it would be necessary for him to address his written case. This seemed to accord with the minister’s views, and since that time a conference has been held, the proceedings of which have been detailed to me by Mr. Rice, who acted as interpreter.

From Mr. Rice’s statement it appears that Mr. Soyeshima opened the conference by stating that, being compelled to absent himself for a short time, he deemed it his duty to ask the Peruvian envoy for a statement of the objects of his mission; that he would be required to explain the same to His Majesty the Ten no before his departure, and would also like to be able to reply to any questions upon the same that might be asked him while in China; that if a treaty was desired, as had been hinted by the Peruvian envoy at the audience with the Tenno, the government was ready to discuss the same, and that if the Maria Luz case was to be opened again they would give him their attention also. But with reference to the latter, he must allow that the government of Japan, never having had any relations with Peru, could not be suspected of any desire to injure or oppress its people that came into a Japanese port on their own country’s vessel, and his government was ready to give them such assurances at any time, and closed by stating that his government had considered that in conducting the proceedings as it had done it was acting humanely and from the best of motives, and having no desire to conceal one single act of theirs from the public eye, had in fact distributed copies of the whole case to the different treaty powers, in order to learn the opinions of those who had one to give.

His excellency the Peruvian minister then replied that he was much pleased to learn the good intentions of the Japanese government shown toward the participants in that affair; that some of his people had sustained personal inconveniences and pecuniary loss; and whereas the original intention of the Peruvian government had been to establish a treaty of amity, &c., with Japan, and named its officers who were to attempt such a duty, the reports of the Maria Luz affair had claimed their later attention, and he, as the envoy, considered that it should be considered firstly, and a determination as to whether his people were entitled to a pecuniary indemnity for losses sustained be arrived at before the treaty negotiations were entered into.

Mr. Soyeshima then repeated his willingness to have the matter considered by the proper officers of his government, and proposed that in the event of a final disagreement the question be referred to some friendly power for arbitration and settlement.

His excellency Señor Garcia then said he was willing for such points as could not be agreed upon to be referred in such a way, so that an arrangement might be made before Mr. Soyeshima left Yedo for China; and Mr. Soyeshima replied that he would not have time to consider the question at all before his departure, whereupon his excellency Señor Garcia gave notice of his intention to send in his exposition of the case within a few days, and Mr. Soyeshima reiterated his promise that his successor would give it his careful attention.

Thus this matter stands at present, with the relations between the legation from Peru and the Japanese government most kind, and the whole affair in as fair a shape for amicable adjustment as could be wished.

Trusting to your kind approval, I have, &c.,

Address of the Peruvian minister to the Mikado.

Sire: Great is the honor which I, at this moment, feel on presenting myself before Your Majesty as the first envoy accredited by my country, the republic of Peru, at the court of the ancient empire of Japan, ruled to-day by so wise and prudent a monarch as Your Majesty, who is executing in this magnificent country, with the general applause, the most extraordinary and transcendental reforms.

The kind reception and courteous hospitality which Your Majesty’s government has in so spontaneous and delicate a manner shown me, will be most highly appreciated by the nation whom I represent, and have created in me the profoundest gratitude, the public expression of which I regard as one of my first and most important duties.

I have been intrusted, in a very especial manner, by His Excellency the President of Peru, to express to Your Majesty how earnest is the interest he feels in the development of the relations which always should exist between the countries separated as they are by an ocean of easy navigation, and both of them abounding in valuable and distant productions. Through the advantages of a mutual interchange, mutual prosperity would be attained, provided it was based on acts of justice, as indeed, with profound faith, will be expected of Your Majesty, who in such high degree possesses that preeminent virtue. That a long and peaceful life may permit Your Majesty to carry out to their complete termination the progressive and liberal measures which have been decreed, are my earnest hopes, at the time that I place in Your Majesty’s august hands the letter of credence by which His Excellency President Pardo appoints me envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Peru near Your Majesty. It only remains for me to assure Your Majesty that frankness and good faith will be my only guides, and with them I am sure of finding in Your Majesty the best helps to fix on lasting bases the relations of all kinds between Peru and Japan.

A true translation.