Van Valkenburgh to William H. Seward, October 26, 1866

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith No. 1, copy of a letter from the British minister, informing me that in view of the prior claims of the United States, France, and the Netherlands to compensation for special injuries, Great Britain had received, of the 2d and 3d instalments of the indemnity money received for the four powers named from the Japanese government, a sum of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) in excess of her proper share, and that therefore the senior British commissariat officer at Yokohama had been instructed to pay to me, for the United States, one-third of the amount named, viz: eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11,666 66.)

I transmit herewith No. 2, copy of the letter of the British commissariat officer, and Nos. 3 and 4, copies of my replies to the British minister and the commissariat officer respectively. When the remittance of one-fourth of the 2d and 3d instalments of the indemnity money, namely, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, ($250,000,) was made in May last, the mode of division between the four powers, as adopted in London or Paris, was not known, nor had any instructions on that subject been received at this legation; and the first instalment of the indemnity remitted through the British commissariat was deemed sufficient to meet any balance that might have to be adjusted between the four powers.

I now understand the above account to stand as follows: A prior claim of one hundred and forty thousand dollars ($140,000) each for the United States, France and the Netherland, on the total amount of the indemnity of three millions dollars, ($3,000,000,) having been admitted, it appears to have been agreed that one-sixth of the total prior claim, amount of four hundred and twenty thousand dollars, ($420,000,) namely, seventy thousand dollars, ($70,000,) shall be first in equal shares apportioned between the United States, France and the Netherlands; the balance remaining of each of the six instalments of five hundred thousand dollars, ($500,000,) namely, four hundred and thirty thousand dollars, ($430,000,) to be then equally divided between the four powers, who signed the convention of October 22d, 1864,

In this manner only can I account for the difference of $11,666 66, now stated to be due to the United States. Instructions in accordance with those received by the British minister being no doubt on the way, I did not hesitate to receive the amount of $11,666 66 named, for which I purchased a bill of exchange on London, at the current rate of four shillings seven pence, at six months after sight. I now enclose the third of this bill of exchange, for two thousand six hundred and seventy-three pounds twelve shillings and two pence sterling, (£2,673 12 2,) drawn by the Oriental Bank Corporation at Yokohama on the Union Bank, London, in favor of the honorable Mr. Adams, our minister in London, to whom, in obedience to the instructions contained in your despatch No. 20, of the 14th July last, I transmit the first of this bill by this mail, and the second of the same I shall send to London, similarly addressed, by the next mail, which leaves Yokohama on the 13th proximo.

I also transmit, No. 5, copy of the receipt given by me to the British assistant commissary general, and, No. 6, copy of my letter to Mr. Adams.

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

[Untitled]

Received from Assistant Commissariat General Murray the sum of eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, ($11.666 66,) equivalent in sterling to £2,479 3s. 4d., being excess of the proportion of second and third instalments of the Simonoseki indemnity received by the British government.

£2,479 3s. 4d.

(Signed in duplicate.)

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH, Minister Resident of the United States in Japan.

Witness: A. L. C. Portman.