Wooyeno Kagenori to A true copy: J. FREDRICO ELMORE , Secretary Peruvian Legation, June 19, 1873

protocol.

On the 19th of June, 1873, a conference took place at the department of foreign affairs of Japan, between the undersigned, Captain Aurelio Garcia y Garcia, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Peru, and Wooyeno Kagenori, His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s acting minister for foreign affairs, in reference to the discussion pending between the two governments, growing out of the case of the Peruvian bark Maria Luz.

The Peruvian minister opened the conference by referring to Mr. Wooyeno’s dispatch of June 14, 1873, stating that he had seen, with great satisfaction, the declaration of the minister for foreign affairs that the Japanese government, in the Maria Luz case, had no intention to affront the dignity of Peru, and added that he was sorry to be obliged to say that Mr. Wooyeno’s arguments to prove that no injustice had been done to Peruvian citizens did not satisfy him. Captain Garcia then explained at length all the points of disagreement between his views of the case as exposed in his note of 31st March, 1873, and those of Mr. Wooyeno’s in reply, and concluded that the Japanese government, in his opinion, had not proved their irresponsibility.

The minister for foreign affairs discussed the several objections presented by the Peruvian minister, and endeavored to demonstrate that in the case of the bark Maria Luz the Japanese government had acted in strict observance of law and the principles of justice.

A long and frank discussion ensued between both ministers, each one sustaining his arguments and conclusions.

It being evident that each government thought itself in the right, and neither being willing to yield any point to the other, this irreconcilable diversity of opinion, united to the earnest desire expressed by both of cultivating the most friendly relations, led the undersigned in representation of the governments of Peru and Japan to agree to submit the case to the decision of an impartial judge, to be the chief of a friendly state.

The undersigned will, as soon as possible, agree upon the selection of the arbitrator and the manner of submitting the case to him.