Edward Stanley to Charles Francis Adams, August 23, 1866

Lord Stanley to Mr. Adams

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, in which you enclose a copy of a despatch from Mr. Seward to the United States chargé d’affaires in Japan, on the subject of the application of the Tycoon’s government for delay in paying the remaining instalments of the Simonoseki indemnity money.

It appears, from that despatch, that the President is of opinion that in the absence of an sufficient equivalent for such an extension, and also in the absence of any adequate guarantees for a more just and faithful execution of the treaties, that extension ought not to be granted; but, Mr. Seward states that the United States chargé d’affaires will be instructed to concur in such course as the European powers shall conclude to adopt, and you add that your government will be happy to learn the decision of her Majesty’s government, should an have been arrived at upon this question.

I have the honor to state to you, in reply, that in the despatch in which her Majesty minister in Japan, forwarded a copy of the application for delay, which he, in common with his colleagues, had received from the Japanese government, her Majesty’s minister state that they had determined that, before submitting that application to their respective governments, the representatives of the treaty powers would await the result of the negotiations which they were engaged with the Japanese government relative to the revision of the tariff, and other measures calculated to encourage commerce and improve the relations of the treaty powers with Japan. Sir Harry Parkes added that he had intimated to the Goroge that his recommendation of their proposal must greatly depend upon the spirit in which the should meet the representatives in those negotiations.

In a further despatch, since received from Sir Harry Parkes, he reports that the negotiations in question were approaching a conclusion, and he hoped to be able to report by the next mail that the convention was signed, or, at all events, that the new tariff had be agreed upon.

Under these circumstances it has appeared to her Majesty’s government that it would be better to defer taking any action upon the application of the Japanese government until it should be presented to the treaty powers by their respective representatives, with such recommendations as they should decide to accompany it with, and it only, therefore, remains for me, pending the arrival of those recommendations, to request you will convey to your government the acknowledgment of her Majesty’s government, for the desire expressed by the cabinet at Washington to act in concert with Great Britain and the other treaty powers, in this and other matters affecting their relations with the Tycoon’s government.

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