PRUYN, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan to Their Excellencies the, April 17, 1865

Mr. Prnyn to the Gorogio

In continuation of my letter No. 36, in relation to your excellencies’ announcement, that the government of his Majesty the Tycoon had resolved to pay the indemnity agreed on by the convention of October 22, 1864, renouncing the right reserved therein to tender in lieu thereof an open port, it becomes my duty to inform your excellencies, that at a recent conference between my colleagues and myself we arrived at the following conclusions, which harmonize with those contained in my said letter No. 36, (enclosure No. 2.)

The decision of his Majesty the Tycoon becomes now a part of the convention, and has the effect to make the obligation to pay the indemnity absolute.

The representatives of the four powers will therefore be prepared to receive the first instalment at the time mentioned by your excellencies, but only on condition that such receipt shall not be considered as binding their respective governments to the extension of the time fixed for the payment of the remaining instalments. The undersigned would be authorized, with his colleagues, to accept the further instalments as they successively become due under the convention. The convention having doubtless before this been ratified by the powers, parties thereto cannot be changed by their representatives. They must therefore make known your excellencies’ wishes to their respective governments for their decision. It will be competent if they shall decide, in a friendly spirit, to comply in whole or in part with the request of his Majesty the Tycoon to propose such equivalent advantages as may be regarded as necessary and just.

Animated by the most friendly sentiments, I have transmitted a copy of your excellencies’ letter to my government, which will, at an early day after an interchange of views with the governments of Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands, give instructions to its representatives, corresponding with the decision at which they shall arrive.

With respect and esteem,