DUCHESNE DE BELLECOURT, Minister Plenipotentiary of France in Japan to Robert H. Pruyn, May 5, 1863

[Confidential.]

Sir: I have had the honor to inform you, verbally, of the position taken by France in regard to the reparation demanded by England for the attacks made on several occasions against British subjects, a question which, though especially regarding the English nation, yet has, in view of the various circumstances under which it presented and developed itself, a character of general interest for all the powers having treaties with Japan, because the denial of the right of security guaranteed to foreigners by solemn conventions must necessarily affect in a serious manner the obligations contracted by the Japanese empire with the western world.

The government of his Majesty the Emperor of the French deeming it proper, by the presence of the French flag in the Yedo waters, near the flag of England preferring the demand for satisfaction, to give proof of the solidarity which in such case must unite the western powers, has given to Admiral Jaurés, commanding-in-chief the forces of France in the China and Japan seas, the requisite instructions to carry out this object as he may judge proper, according to the nature of the circumstances and the facts within his knowledge, as well for this special question as for all others.

Already on the 21st of April last, under the impression that the Yedo government might be inclined again on this occasion to evade the demands for reparation presented by the government of the Queen of Great Britain for the blood shed with impunity; I had, previous to the arrival of Admiral Jaurés, felt the necessity of clearly acquainting the government of Japan with the opinion of France on the Anglo-Japanese question.

I think it proper, sir, to transmit to you herewith a copy of the letter which I wrote to the Gorogia on that occasion.

Meanwhile Admiral Jaurés, having re-established order in Cochin China, fortunately arrived here to study seriously with the minister of the Emperor the grave questions which at this moment are presenting themselves.

We went to work immediately, and have conscientiously studied the state of affairs in all its phases and from all points of view. Being then called to the councils of the British authorities, according to established custom in these parts, where our two nations always show themselves united in the cause of Christian civilization, we, Admiral Jaurés and myself, while keeping in view our instructions of moral support, have supported a course of conciliation. I was preparing myself to enter frankly upon this course with the Japanese government, when reliable intelligence enlightened us upon the importance of this government, even in matters of the most limited importance, in consequence of the state of excitement at which now the parties have arrived, which are carrying all the elements of moderation in the Japanese confederation and the government of the Tycoon itself to a state of things amounting to annulment of the treaties of 1858.

Documents of the most conclusive nature on the deplorable disposition of the daimios and the court of the Mikado in regard to foreigners have been laid before us, and these documents perfectly agree with those which two months ago came into the hands of your excellency, the authenticity whereof was guaranteed to you by the government of the Tycoon itself about the time that an envoy of the Gorogio informed the legations of France and England that the Tycoon was going to Kioto for the purpose of quieting the effects of the opposition of the Japanese princes against the treaties. This was the day before the diplomatic residences at Yedo were destroyed by fire.

We have then judged, in view of the present unsettled state of the minds of the higher classes in Japan, that, in the first place, regard should be had to guarantee as much as possible the execution of the treaties, evidently threatened by this deplorable crisis which has lasted so many months already and is indefinitely lengthened; and that, in order to arrive at a satisfactory result, or one in agreement with the nature of our treaties, we had best leave special questions to one or other of the treaty powers, and take advantage of the presence of the naval forces of the two nations, to frankly offer to the regular government, with which we have treated for the empire of Japan, the support which may be useful to it, in order to triumph over the blind antagonists of its foreign policy.

I have, therefore, in concert with the representative of Great Britain, made to the government of the Tycoon the formal proposition of the full support in the present circumstances, not only of the forces now assembled in Kanagawa roads, but also of such additional force as may be necessary.

We shall await for some days the answer of the government of the Tycoon, after which, in case of refusal, we leave to this sovereign the entire responsibility of his acts or the events, by acting according to circumstances, and with the consciousness of having exhausted all the means of arriving at understanding and conciliation, to find ourselves only in presence of formal refusals, either to just demands, or to frank, useful, and regular propositions.

I hope, sir, as also does my colleague of England, that this line of action will receive the approbation of all the governments having treaties with Japan, and that you will be pleased to submit it to the government of the United States.

Be pleased, sir, to accept the assurance of the high consideration with which I have the honor to be your excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,