PARKES, Her Britannic Majesty Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Their Excellencies the, January 17, 1870

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Sir: The undersigned have already addressed to their excellencies separate communications protesting against the course which the government of his Majesty the Tenno are adopting toward the native Christians of Urakami.

Before proceeding to report to their respective governments the determination conveyed to them in their excellencies’ dispatch of the 7th instant, which, if unfortunately persisted in, will be received, they are convinced, by their respective governments with deep regret, the undersigned think it wise to request a conference with the general government, in order that they may urge on the earnest attention of the latter the views which are likely to be taken by all the treaty powers of the fresh persecution of native Christians in Japan. They have therefore to propose that his excellency the Hocho, and such other members of the government as are authorized to deal with this question, should meet the undersigned at Yeddo at one o’clock on the 19th instant, at such place as their excellencies may find it convenient to indicate. They have also to request that the government of his Majesty the Tenno will, in the mean time, be so good as to instruct the local authorities at Nagasaki, by the United States mail steamer leaving Yokohama on the 20th instant, to suspend all proceedings against the native Christians until the general government shall have maturely considered the representations which the undersigned, animated by the most friendly feeling toward Japan, conceive it to be their duty to make to the government of his Majesty on this important subject.

The undersigned, &c., &c.