SANJO SANEYOSHI, Daijo Daijin . [ Prime Minister. ] to Chinese subjects, September 29, 1874

Notification to Chinese subjects.

[From the Japan Weekly Mail, October 3, 1874.]

Chinese subjects.—The wicked inhabitants of Formosa have, in former years, murdered and plundered several tens of our Japanese subjects. Steps have, therefore, been taken to punish these offenses, and to protect our subjects from injury in the future. To this the Chinese government have objected, and our government has therefore dispatched officials to discuss this matter, but no conclusion has yet been arrived at. We hear that you, the Chinese subjects, resident in this country, are unnecessarily apprehensive lest it should be impossible to preserve peace between the two countries, and that, if war broke out, your persons would be imprisoned, and your property plundered and confiscated, and we are informed that you torment yourselves with all kinds of anxieties. If this is truly the case, your condition is a very pitiable one. But even if war should unavoidably break out, in what are you, the Chinese subjects, resident here, to blame? Except in the case of persons guilty of contraband trading, spying, or doing injury to this country connected with the war, the government of great Japan will neither imprison or plunder you. Take careful note of this, obey the instructions of this government, pursue your occupations in peace, and do not allow yourselves to be carried away by excitement.