PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim in Japan to W. P. Mangum, United States, September 21, 1865

Mr. Portman to Mr. Mangum

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that this day I received a letter from the Gorogio, to the effect that the governors at the opened ports have been instructed to abolish the hitherto existing regulations complained of as restricting the trade in irico, awabi, and sharks’ fins, and that from the 20th day of the 9th month (the 9th November of this year) the said articles may be as freely purchased as any other article of commerce.

The date as above mentioned has been fixed with a view of inaugurating this improvement at the opened ports on the same day, according to precedent, though it is optional with the governor at each port to allow it to take effect at an earlier day; and on causing inquiry to be made at the custom-house at your port, I trust you will find that the governor has availed himself of the privilege granted him, and that all the regulations of a restrictive character above referred to have been already abolished from the date of the receipt of his instructions.

Permit me to request you to make the foregoing known to all American merchants within your jurisdiction.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,