John Neale to R. H. Pruyn, May 6, 1863

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Sir: I have had the honor on more than one occasion to communicate to you the situation of the differences pending between her Britannic Majesty’s government and that of Japan, arising out of the barbarous murders committed upon British subjects.

The last intimation which I had the honor to make was, to acquaint you that, upon the earnest representations of the Japanese government, I had extended the term for a definite reply to the categorical demands for reparation which I had been instructed by my government to make to the 11th instant.

As the period approached for the expiration of this new term, my colleague, the representative of his Majesty the Emperor of the French, in pursuance of his instructions, informed the Japanese ministers of the entire sympathy of the Emperor’s government with the just cause in which her Majesty’s government found itself at issue with that of Japan, and of the desire of the Emperor that the French flag should appear by the side of that of Great Britain, during the demonstration which might become necessary to bring the Japanese government to a true sense of its duty and of its treaty obligations.

In this conjuncture, Rear-Admiral Jaures, commanding his Imperial Majesty’s naval forces in China and Japan, has arrived at this anchorage, when, after judging for himself of the situation of affairs, he has declared his firm and resolute intention of acting in concert with the British admiral in the present critical situation of affairs.

Under these circumstances, the natural result has been the adoption of a just action between the diplomatic and naval authorities of the two nations in respect to the present difficulties.

Impressed with these sentiments, and taking into earnest consideration the evident difficulties of the Tycoon’s government, arising out of the increasing hostility of certain powerful daimios, thereby placing in peril the very existence of the Tycoon’s dynasty and its incapacity to carry out its treaty engagements, my colleague of France, and myself, have distinctly informed the envoy of the Gorogio, Ta Ke Moto-Kai-no Kami, conjointly, and in the presence and with the concurrence of the British and French admirals, that, desirous of averting by all possible means in our power, and to the last extremity, all interruption of peaceful relations, the British and French admirals were prepared to strengthen the hands of the Tycoon’s government by an active co-operation against the hostile daimios, who have ranged themselves under the banner of the Mikado, to wage a war of antagonism against the Tycoon, and under pressure impede him from carrying out the obligations he has deliberately contracted with foreign states.

The grounds upon which this proffered aid is based, is 1st, the avowal of the Tycoon’s government itself of the opposition it encounters in its relations with foreigners, on the part of certain powerful daimios specifically named; 2d, upon the knowledge which has been conveyed to us of peremptory and arrogant written appeals addressed to the Tycoon and his counsel, by eleven of the most influential of those daimios, against all intercourse with foreigners, and the authenticity of which is not denied by the government envoy; and, finally, upon a correspondence between the Mikado and the Tycoon, wherein the former enjoins the immediate expulsion of foreigners; the authenticity of which, as you are aware, and did us the honor officially to inform us, was, with slight reserve, acknowledged by the Tycoon’s government.

The proffer of assistance thus made with as much frankness as earnestness must necessarily be communicated to the Tycoon himself, and with this view an additional term has now been solicited and granted for its acceptance or rejection; or, in other words, whether it will accept such undoubted and unmistakable proof of our earnest desire to make every possible allowance for the difficult situation of the Tycoon and his government, by coming now to its aid, in order that it may become enabled to carry out its inevitable obligations, or take upon itself the responsibility of a refusal.

The new term referred to extends to the 21st instant, at the expiration of which I shall again have the honor to inform you of the situation of affairs; but I would especially request your attention to the fact that the fresh term now accorded, during which no aggressive act will be directed against the Japanese government and territory, is conditional, the Japanese envoy having consented to arrest the lamentable condition of affairs at Yokohama, and to adopt measures to arrest any further departure of the inhabitants, and assuring, also, the provisioning of the town. A failure in carrying into effect these engagements will be held by the British and French admirals to be an initiative of hostilities on the part of the Tycoon’s government, which is avowedly, and in fact, sufficiently strong to put a stop to a panic purposely instigated with a view to plunder and confusion. A continuance of the present condition of affairs on the part of the Japanese authorities will, therefore, necessitate, on the part of the British and French admirals, corresponding measures, which, should they become necessary, will be duly communicated to the representatives of foreign States.

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