PORTMAN, Chargé d’ Affaires of the United States in Japan to Midluno Idsumi No Kam, July 8, 1865

No. 1.

I have to request your excellency to communicate to me the rank and names of the officers composing your embassy, which left by last mail steamer for Europe, and to inform me of the object of their mission.

Your embassy which left for Europe in 186*2 concluded a secret convention with the governments of Great Britain and France, which was shown me by Colonel Neale, then her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’ affaires, and the embassy which left subsequently concluded a convention in Paris, which latter convention was disapproved by his Majesty the Tycoon. In neither of these cases was any notice whatever given to the minister of the United States. In the most friendly manner I now beg to submit that it is difficult to reconcile the conclusion of such conventions with a fair interpretation of the most-favored-nation clause, as contained in article 9 of the treaty concluded with Commodore Perry at Kanagawa on the 31st of March, 1854.

The President is animated with a most cordial friendship towards his Majesty the Tycoon and his government, which friendship, I am sure, is as cordially reciprocated, and I have therefore no doubt that your excellency will furnish me at an early day with the information desired,

With respect and esteem,