VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, November 12, 1866

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Their Excellencies the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, &c., &c., &c., Yedo:

My knowledge of the suffering of your people for food, occasioned by the great advance in the price of rice, and of the desire your excellencies have for diminishing such distress, evinced by the establishment of buildings and the furnishing of food to them, induces me to address you this note.

Foreign merchants, I am told, would be very glad to import into your empire foreign rice, nearly, if not quite as good as that raised upon your own soil, had they the assurance that your people would be permitted to purchase of them without hindrance.

I am also told that such foreign rice could be sold in this market at a much less price per picul than your own rice now brings.

I desire, therefore, to call the attention of your excellencies to the great importance of at once issuing a proclamation to the people of Japan, assuring them that they are at liberty to purchase of foreign merchants, and I have no doubt that an abundant supply will soon be in market.

With respect and esteem,