Portman to Ogasawara Iki No Kam, January 20, 1868

Mr. Portman to Ogasawara Iki No Kami.

The events in Yedo on yesterday, of which I have this day been officially informed by the governor of this port, being acts of overt war between the government of his Majesty, the Tycoon, and a combination of Daimios, of which the Prince of Satsuma is said to be the chief, are of such importance that it is my duty to request your excellency to furnish me with detailed information concerning them at your earliest convenience.

On the 25th instant the United States mail steamer will leave Yokohama for San Francisco, and from that port I shall cause the latest intelligence to be at once transmitted by telegraph to Washington, where it will be received in about twenty-two days from that date, and one or two days later it will reach London and Paris, also by telegraph. By the American route, therefore, the present state of affairs in this part of Japan will be known at the three capitals named within from three to four weeks sooner than by the other routes.

Your excellency will undoubtedly acknowledge, therefore, that it is important that I should be furnished with full and authentic information at the earliest moment, and, if possible, before the 25th instant, the date of the departure of the American mail steamer.

The government of the United States, being sincerely desirous to cultivate and increase the friendly intercourse so happily existing with Japan, will, I feel sure, in view of the faithful and liberal execution of the treaty by the government of his present Majesty, Aotsbasi, be pleased to take the important intelligence about to be conveyed into favorable consideration, and to regulate their action and use their influence with the great western powers in a sense best calculated to promote the interests and prosperity of your country.

I shall send a copy of this letter to the American minister at Osaka, and beg to request your excellency to send a copy translation of the same to your colleagues in that city.

With respect and esteem,