TERASHIMA MUNENORI, Minister for Foreign Affairs to French ministers, February 7, 1875

The minister for foreign affairs to French ministers.

[From the, Japan Herald,” February 16, 1875.]

Sir: It has given me much pleasure to peruse the detailed explanation which you have given me in your dispatch of the 27th ultimo of the circumstances under which your government and that of France have now resolved to withdraw entirely the force hitherto stationed at Yokohama for the protection of the treaty-rights of the subjects of your two countries.

Owing to the unsettled condition of this country before the revolution, those troops were sent here for the protection of your country’s subjects, but in consequence of the re-establishment of a national government by His Majesty the Tenno, and the increasing intimacy of our foreign relations, our nation, as actual experience has shown, has implicitly adhered to the policy of the government in these two respects. The time, therefore, has arrived when (your government and that of France) have resolved upon withdrawing your force altogether, a circumstance from which both our governments derive the highest satisfaction. I have no doubt that the cordiality of the relations between them will be still more enhanced by this measure.

I should also observe that it gives me much pleasure to recognize the good feeling which has marked the intercourse, with all classes of our people, of the troops which; are now to be removed, during the period of their stay here.

I need scarcely say that it is the hope of this government to maintain on the same cordial footing the existing friendship between the subjects of our respective countries.

I have, &c.,