To His Excellency John A. Bingham to Terashima Munenari , His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s, August 16, 1875

Mr. Bingham to Mr. Terashima.

Sir: The consul-general of the United States at Kanagawa reports to me officially that the Hon. William A. Richardson, a citizen and judge of the United States, and Commander R. F. R. Lewis, of the United States Navy, and a citizen of the United States, visited, on Saturday last, the 14th instant, the town of Hachoji, in the province of Musashi, within the treaty-limits of Kanagawa, and were there arrested by two policemen and taken to the police-station, thence to a hotel, and detained; that they were detained overnight at the hotel under restraint, and ordered to proceed, on the 15th, to Yokohama in charge of a policeman. This order was executed by delivering these gentlemen over to the police at the police-station in Yokohama, where they were rudely held in custody, and detained until their release was demanded by Mr. Elmer, an American in the service of the United States consulate-general; which demand was at first refused, but tin ally graciously granted, upon condition Mr. Elmer would stand surety for the appearance of these parties upon the requirement of the police-officials. I am informed by the consul-general that no complaint was made against these gentlemen, save that they were traveling within treaty-limits without passes. I am also informed by the consul-general that Hachoji is within the treaty-limits as prescribed by the seventh article of the treaty made by Japan with the United States of America on the 29th of July, 1856, and ratified in 1860. If this be so, the proceeding is a flagrant breach of treaty, a wrong not only to two eminent and honorable citizens of my country, who bear high commissions in the public service, but also a wrong done to the United States.

I have the honor to request the immediate consideration of this grave matter of complaint, to the end that the offenders, if guilty, may be punished, and such further action may be had as will satisfy justice and assure to the United States and the citizens thereof all rights guaranteed by the subsisting treaty between the two countries.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,