Robert H. Pruyn to William H. Seward, May 3, 1863

Mr. Pruyn to Mr. Seward

Sir: In my despatch (No. 15) of the 10th ultimo I informed you of a demand made by the British government for reparation for the murders of June and September last, and enclosed you a copy of the letter which her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires sent me a few days after he had read me the note he was preparing to address to the Japanese government.

Since that time a correspondence has taken place between the British chargé d’affaires and myself. I hasten to enclose copies, as follows:

No. 1. Colonel Neale to Mr. Pruyn.

No. 2. Memorandum of meeting held at the British legation in Yokohama.

No. 3. Mr. Pruyn to Colonel Neale.

No. 4. Colonel Neale to Mr. Pruyn.

No. 5. Colonel Neale to Mr. Pruyn.

No. 6. Memorandum, to provide for the safety of foreign residents at Yokohama.

No. 7. Mr. Pruyn to Colonel Neale. No. 8. Mr. Pruyn to Colonel Neale.

I submit these letters without remark, hoping that nothing will be found in those written by myself which the President will disapprove.

I have felt from the outset that the course of the British government has been a most extraordinary one. No one can deny that the occurrence of September, however unfortunate, was purely accidental. It is conceded that under the same circumstances a Japanese would have been killed. It is likewise conceded that the nationality of none of the parties attacked was known. Indeed, the governor of Kanagawa despatched a messenger that evening to our consul, under the impression that one of the wounded men was an American.

And yet I have strongly urged a compliance with the demand, though I view it with feelings I shall not permit myself to express.

I have also pointed out the danger of the demand being withdrawn, and largely increased if not promptly complied with, sums being demanded to meet the expenses of the fleet and for damages to business sustained by merchants.

Failing success in this, I shall recommend the Japanese government to propose submitting the whole case for settlement to the President of the United States or the Emperor of Russia, or both, or even to the British government.

If the demand must be complied with without modification or even discussion, as the British minister declares, results of the most deplorable character may follow. No country is so susceptible of defence as this. There are no roads for artillery. The whole country is intersected by ditches and canals, and covered by rice fields. The people, or rather the two-sworded men, are as reckless of life as any people that ever existed, and no hostile force can hold any considerable portion of this empire without the sacrifice of thousands of lives and millions of money.

A ship leaves for San Francisco on the 5th instant. I shall inform you if anything decisive meanwhile occurs.

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