698 FOREIGN RELATIONS.

and remote from his residence, and at a place with respect to which the
Japanese government had expressly informed the secretary that the
rights of a legation do not exist, and for a crime committed before that
Servant had entered the service of the secretary. I observe that Sir
Harry Parkes states that the decision of the foreign representatives
was reached at a meeting at which all of them were present, “ with the
exception of the United States minister.” . a

It is by no means improbable that your views on the question would
have differed from those of the other representatives, and might have
modified in some degree what appears to be the extreme position to
_ which the doctrine of immunity seems to have been carried in this cor-

respondence. — 7 a CES So

On the general question of united action by the foreign representa-
tives in Japan, in matters of common interest to the foreign powers, the
views of the President were communicated to you in my No. 35, under
date of the 20th April last, and it is not supposed that you have devi-
ated from the instruction then given. a . | |

In the present condition of the country, and in view of the evident
restlessness of Japan under the doctrine of extraterritoriality applied
to her, and of her apparent desire to separate the foreign powers from
each other, possibly in view of. the revision of the treaties, it is not
deemed wise at present to depart from a policy which has thus far, in
the main, proved serviceable. |

The President therefore relies upon your prudent efficiency to carry

out the policy which has been indicated to you, and which has been an-

‘nounced to other powers as that which is to govern our intercourse —
with Japan, unless in cases where you may see the interests of this
Government to be so clearly in a different direction that you may feel
it your duty to withhold concert of action until you shall have had op-
portunity to lay the case before your Government. |

It is deemed especially important that, in all cases of ill-treatment of
foreigners, or of any restriction, or limitation, or denial of the rights
guaranteed to them by treaty, or of any infringement of treaty-rights,
whether personal or of property, the united influence of the foreign rep--
resentatives in Japan should assert the inviolability of the treaties, and
the full protection of all citizens or subjects of the treaty powers.

Tam, &e., | |
| HAMILTON FISH.
No. 442.
Mr. Fish to. Mr. Bingham.
No. 67.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, September 1, 1874.

Str: Your No. 105, of the date of 29th July last, is this day received,
and your account of your interview with Tereshima, and of the rejee-
tion of the demands made by China, seem: to give countenance to the
current rumor that Japan is determined to maintain the foothold she
has obtained in Formosa, even at the expense of a war with China. I
shall await, with interest, your further dispatches, which it is hoped
will be full in their detail of all matters in connection with-the delicate |
relations between these two nations. 2 OOe | | |

The Department is pleased that your attention has been directed to