Elihu B. Richardson to John A. Bingham , Envoy Extraordinary and, August 28, 1875

Messrs. Lewis and Richardson to Mr. Bingham.

Dear Sir: Your letters of the 25th instant, addressed to us respectively, inclosing copies of a communication from His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s minister for foreign affairs, in relation to the unwarrantable arrest and detention of ourselves at Hachoji, while on a journey to that and other places, within the treaty-limits, wherein citizens of the United States “are free to go wherever they please,” on the sole ground that foreigners had no right to be there, have been duly received. Please accept our thanks for the prompt and energetic manner in which you have presented to the Japanese government the violation, by its subordinate officers, of its treaty obligations with our country, and of our rights and privileges as citizens of the United States. You will please to communicate to His Imperial Majesty’s minister for foreign affairs, if you think proper, our entire satisfaction, so far as we are personally concerned, with the course pursued by the Japanese government in acknowledging the violation of the treaty, expressing regret at our arrest, and removing the subordinate officers by whom the offense was committed.

We are, with great respect and esteem, your obedient servants,