The Right Honorable Earl of Clarendon to Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons, April 30, 1870
Earl of Clarendon to Lord Lyons, G. C. B.
My Lord: A few days ago during my absence from indisposition, Monsieur Tirrot, first secretary of the French embassy, called on Mr. Hammond by direction of the Marquis de la Valette, to talk over, in consequence of instructions from his government, the question of Christian persecution in Japan, and to ascertain whether or how far her Majesty’s government were disposed to act in concert with that of France in regard to that matter.
Mr. Hammond said in reply to Monsieur Tirrot’s inquiry that of course it was not for him to give an official answer to it, but that he had no hesitation in saying that he was sure her Majesty’s government would not be disposed to do more than had already been done by her Majesty’s minister in Japan.
It appeared, indeed, Mr. Hammond said, that far from deprecating the dispersion of the native Christian colonists at Urakami, the Roman Catholic missionaries in Japan, and indeed all persons who were interested in the propagation of the gospel in that country, ought to see with satisfaction 19 Christian stations scattered by the act of the Japanese government throughout the country, rather than that the Christian converts should be confined as heretofore to a single locality; and that the measure had been viewed in that light by a native person high in office in Japan, who had made the observation to Sir II. Parkes. Moreover, the Japanese government did not seem to wish to couple the dispersion of the Christians with any other hardships to be inflicted on them, for they were ready to allow them to be united in the new localities to which they were removed by the representatives of the Christian powers, who would there have the means of satisfying themselves that they were otherwise not ill treated. But after all, some allowance must be made for the Japanese government, who had, on their side also, to consult the religious opinions and scruples of their own people; and instead of pressing the government too hard, the Christian powers ought to deal forbearingly with them and accept what the Japanese government were willing to concede, trusting that more might be obtained hereafter.
This, Mr. Hammond said, was the view taken of the matter by Sir H. Parkes, who advocated moderation in dealing with the Japanese government in this matter, and who was of opinion that the question of Christianity, if left alone, would sooner or later arrive at a satisfactory solution. Railways and telegraphs, Sir H. Parkes thought, would soon make a change in the Japanese mind; and he could not but hope that, as regards Christianity, there would gradually be a marked improvement in the feeling and conduct of the government as well as of the people of Japan.
Mr. Hammond said that he was satisfied that the policy recommended by Sir H. Parkes was in accordance with the views of her Majesty’s government and of the British Parliament and people, and he felt satisfied they were not prepared to depart from it.
Monsieur Tirrot alluded to a memorandum, which, how ever, bore no date, which the representatives of the Christian powers had recently delivered to the Japanese government, and in which they offered to exert their influence to keep missionaries within bounds, provided that the dispersed converts were permitted to return to their former homes. But it did not appear what result had attended this offer. Her Majesty’s government have not yet received a copy of this paper from Sir H. Parkes.
Mr. Hammond was careful to explain to Monsieur Tirrot that everything he had said in this conversation must be taken only as the expression of his own personal opinions; he had no objection, he said, to Monsieur Tirrot repeating it, as such, to his government; and having secured from Mr. Hammond an account of the language which he held to Monsieur Tirrot, I think it right to make your excellency also acquainted with it, and to inform you that her Majesty’s government entirely concur in it.