Hamilton Fish to Hamilton Fish, December 1, 1874

No. 257. Mr. Fish to General Schenck.

Sir: Referring to instruction No. 603, bearing date September 2, with which was inclosed a copy of an instruction to Mr. Bingham, No. 65, dated August 26, and which you were requested to read to the minister of foreign affairs,* * * I now inclose you a copy of an extract from a dispatch, No. 131, from Mr. Bingham in reply to that instruction No. 65. It appeared that Sir Harry Parkes, Her Britannic Majesty’s representative in Japan, had stated that the decision of the foreign representatives on the occasion of their intervention upon the arrest of a servant of the translating secretary was reached at a meeting at which all of them were present, with the exception of the United States minister. Mr. Bingham now informs the Department that the first intimation of the existence of the note in question was conveyed by the instruction from this Department, No. 65, and that he was not consulted in the matter, or aware of the joint action referred to. It seems just to Mr. Bingham that the same course should be taken, with reference to his explanation, as was taken in regard to the instruction, and you are therefore instructed to read to Lord Derby the extract herewith inclosed.

As Mr. Bingham was not aware of any joint action by the representatives of the foreign powers on the question, there appears to be no ground for remark arising from the absence of his name from the joint note.

I am, &c.,