Robert H. Pruyn to William H. Seward, March 16, 1865

Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward

Sir: I have the honor to enclose copies of the minute of a conference recently held with the Gorogio by her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires and the political agent of the Netherlands, and also of a memorandum submitted by them on that occasion, and of their letter to me communicating the same, (enclosures 1,2 and 3.)

Two subjects of common interest were considered on that occasion: one, an alleged attempt to create a government monopoly of silk; the other having reference to what they said they felt justified in declaring to be the desire of their government as to the final disposition of the obligations assumed by the Tycoon in and by the convention recently concluded with the four powers.

I was at Yedo on the day the British chargé d’affaires left for that city, and was not aware of his design to call the attention of the Gorogio to these subjects, which Mr. Winchester states was owing to the detention of a letter which he sent to the consul general of Holland, then also in Yedo, asking him to consult me. But on the eve of his departure for Yedo Mr. Winchester had an interview with the French minister, when the latter disavowed any such design as being entertained by himself, and he, therefore, now feels aggrieved at the formal presentation of the subject to the Gorogio after such disavowal, not only as a discorteous act, but as one rather discrediting the sincerity of his disavowal; when, therefore, the Gorogio unexpectedly declared they had the right to purchase silks for sale abroad, and the representatives of Great Britain and Holland had presented their memorandum protesting against the same, it became necessary for them to obtain the co-operation of their colleagues, with which they had till that time believed they could dispense. The minister of France when waited on by them after their return from Yedo, condemned their course with considerable warmth, and declined sanctioning the memorandum by his approval. I expressed myself willing to meet my colleagues and join in a memorandum which should be free from the objections which I pointed out as attaching to the one they had presented. When they subsequently transmitted the letter and copies above referred to, the minister of France proposed that we should answer the same jointly, though we agreed in considering the memorandum objectionable in itself, and also in regretting that separate action had been taken. I preferred not to do so, fearing it might create some serious differences, and might connect me with personal difficulties the issue of which I could not foresee and would be powerless to control.

I have reason to know that my representations and mediation have tended greatly to moderate the reply of the French minister and to soften the asperity of feeling which at one time appeared to threaten an interruption of our harmonious action.

I also enclose, No. 4, copy of my letter to Messrs. Winchester and Polsbroek in reply, and No. 5, copy of note verbale of the French minister in reply to the same.

I thought it best not to enter into any extended discussion of the memorandum, but will ask my colleagues to join in a note to the Japanese government, which shall be more precise, and which will not justify the adoption of measures by the Japanese government which the representatives of Great Britain and Holland have inadvertently conceded it may legitimately adopt, such as either the direct increase of export and import duties, which is declared to be the right of all governments on the indirect increase of the former by the imposition of transit duties, the exercise of both of which rights must be regarded as restrained by existing treaties, and to that extent extinguished. The papers transmitted require no further notice. I hope the President will think I have acted with discretion, and that it was well not to make this separate action the subject of more serious complaint. My letter was framed with the design to permit such explanation as might re-establish harmony, though I was sensible it was, to say the least, indelicate to forestall the action of the four powers in reference to a convention, which may even now be under consideration.

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