Letter

[Untitled], 6th of the 12th Month, 2 year, Meije, (7th January, 1870.)

Author

Sawa Jusaunei Kiyowara Nobu Yoski, And Teraschima Jüskii Fiyiwara Munenori, Ministers for Foreign Affairs

Date

January 6, 1870

Type

Letter

Language

English

[Untitled]

Tokei, 6th of the 12th Month, 2 year, Meije, (7th January, 1870.)

We have the honor to inform you that the native Christians in Urakami, near Nagasaki, were last year distributed among several princes, under sentence of labor. After inquiring, it appeared that several had remained, but, owing to the disturbances at the time, we were unable then to dispose of them.

Tranquillity now having been restored, we intend to deliver those who remained to the several princes, to be under their control, and to perform the same labor as their own people; our reasons for this measure being, that if those Christians remain undisturbed, from the unfriendly feelings of which they are the objects, difficulties will inevitably arise between them and their neighbors, and in this manner it will become troublesome to govern those country-people.

In conclusion, we beg to state that, all rumors that may be circulated notwithstanding, those people will not be subject to any severe labor.

With respect and consideration,

Sawa Jusaunei Kiyowara Nobu Yoski, And Teraschima Jüskii Fiyiwara Munenori, Ministers for Foreign Affairs.

Topics

19th Century Diplomacy Reconstruction

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the Pr View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the Pr.