SEWARD, Consul-General to John L. Cadwalader, September 2, 1874

No. 168. Mr. Seward to Mr. Cadwalader.

Sir: Referring to the matter of the arrest of General Le Gendre, at Amoy, I have now to submit the following further information:

After the consideration which I gave to the subject, as indicated in my dispatch No. 797, it seemed to me that a prosecution of Le Gendre before me under the neutrality act must fail.

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At this conjuncture I received a dispatch from Dr. Williams, dated July 31, a copy of which I inclose.

Looking to the tenor of this letter I concluded that my wisest course would be to release Le Gendre immediately upon his arrival here. I did this, and now inclose to you a copy of my dispatch to Dr. Williams, No. 387, reporting this action.

After Le Gendre’s arrival I received two letters from the consul-general for Japan, copies of which, and of my responses and of the order to release Le Gendre, will be found herewith.

I have received no word from Dr. Williams of later date than the dispatch of July 31.

The arrest of Le Gendre gave the liveliest satisfaction to all the Chinese officials. Mr. Henderson’s dispatch No. 44 to the Department speaks of the sentiments of the Chinese in this regard. They consider that Le Gendre has been the promoter of the whole business, and seem to feel that the chances of an amicable settlement with Japan would be increased by his removal from the field.

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It is with extreme satisfaction that I learn at this moment that the leave of Lieutenant Cassel has been revoked. There are difficulties in dealing with our citizens who are civilians, but none can arise when the person is an officer of the Government. And for the one the responsibility of the Government is very different from that which arises in the other case.

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I have, &c.,

You are hereby instructed and empowered to arrest ——, should he be found within your jurisdiction, and to detain him in custody until he shall have given to the United States of America a bond, with sufficient sureties, in the penal sum of — —; such bond to be upon the condition that the said ——— shall not, within —— from the date hereof, take part, directly or indirectly, in any hostilities between the empire of China and the empire of Japan; and that he shall not, during said period of ——, aid or assist in any manner or degree one of the said empires, or any portion of the people thereof, in setting on foot or prosecuting any hostile expedition or operation against the other of said empires, or any portion of the territory or people thereof.

Given ——