Rémusat to the Marquis de Noailles, May 9, 1873

Count de Rémusat to the Marquis de Noailles.

Marquis: Our chargé d’affaires informs me that the minister of Italy is about to go to Rome on leave of absence, and that, while there, he will submit to the approval of his government an arrangement, the terms of which have been fixed by him, with the ministers of the Mikado, with a view to making provision for the free travel of Italians in the interior of the empire. I have the honor herewith to send you the text of this draught of a convention as furnished to M. de Turenne by the legation of Italy, and by the minister of foreign affairs of Japan. The difference between the two versions does not change the purport of this document, the sole interest of which for us lies in the provision, in virtue of which Italians, when they have passed the limits assigned by the treaties now in force, as those of the residence of foreigners, are to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Japanese authorities.

The motive which has led the minister of Italy to seek to procure access to the interior provinces for his countrymen is evident, and as long ago as 1868 we were witnesses of the impatience of his predecessor to secure to his country new facilities for the obtainment of silk-worms’ eggs. Whatever may be the importance of this product for Italian industry, the advantage expected from the new convention does not seem to us to make amends for the very serious objections which it presents. Such has been, according to the information furnished me by our chargé d’affaires, the opinion of the representatives of England, the United States, Russia, Germany, and Spain, who have, like him, viewed with regret the agreement brought about by the minister of Italy, and who have felt it their duty to write in this sense to their governments, urging them to dissuade the government at Rome from ratifying the arrangement submitted to it for approval. This is a step which we on our part cannot hesitate to take, and which is justified by an interest of the highest importance. The proposed convention would in effect destroy in a capital matter that unity of action which constitutes the first element of the success of foreign legations in Japan. It would create a troublesome precedent, of which the Japanese government (which has already declared that other nations shall enjoy similar privileges only on the same conditions) would not fail to avail itself. The organization of justice in Japan, and the laws in force there, do not furnish guarantees sufficient to render it wise to renounce, for the present at least, the right of exercising protection over our citizens, and of securing to them, on these terms, access to the provinces of the interior, where we hope without doubt to cause them to be admitted more freely, but without abandoning a prerogative, the maintenance of which is still rendered necessary by the state of the country. What we know of the intentions of the Washington Cabinet does not permit us to doubt that it will share our view, and the Secretary of State, whose attention I beg you to call to this matter, will without doubt be disposed to instruct the representative of the United States at Rome to endeavor, as Mr. Fournier will do, to induce the Italian government not to sanction an arrangement whereby it only secures an advantage which it might confidently expect to secure by co-operating with the other powers in their efforts, and which it would then obtain without making a dangerous sacrifice.

Receive, &c.