[Enclosure No. 2.], April 16, 1863

[Enclosure No. 2.]

Memorandum.

A meeting was held at the British legation this day, the 16th April, 1863, of the following authorities, viz:

Rear-Admiral Kuper; Colonel Neale, her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires; Captain Massot, commanding his Imperial Majesty’s ship-of-war Dupleix, (representing also his excellency Monsieur Duchesne de Bellecourt, minister plenipotentiary of France, absent from ill health;) Captain Cosembroot, commanding his Netherlands Majesty’s naval forces in Japan; Captain Brine, royal engineers.

The object of the meeting was stated, and understood to be to elicit the opinion of the naval authorities respecting the degree of protection which could be afforded by the ships-of-war available to the foreign residents at Yokohama, in the event of the settlement being seriously threatened.

After due deliberation and discussion, it was decided that there was not a sufficient force at present in Japan to guarantee perfect security to the foreign community at Yokohama in the event of an attack in force by the Japanese.

British residents at Yokohama are therefore individually advised to adopt such measures for their security as may be in their power before the 26th instant, so as to be prepared for the contingency of hostilities being entered upon.

Arrangements will be made by the officers commanding ships-of-war in this port, in conjunction with the guards on shore, to render all possible assistance in case of alarm, and the details of which will be communicated in due course.

A copy of this memorandum will be transmitted through her Majesty’s consul to the consuls of friendly states for the information of the subjects of their respective nations residing within this settlement.