No. 193.
Mr. Bingham to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Tokei,
Japan, February 27, 1877. (Received
March 26.)
No. 514.]Sir: Referring to my No. 502, of date the 9th
instant, in relation to the opening of the imperial railway between Kiôto
(Saikio) and Kobe (Hiogo), I now have the honor to inclose a copy of the
address which the foreign representatives presented on that occasion to His
Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and also a copy of His Majesty’s reply
thereto.
I have, &c.,
[Page 350]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 514.]
Address of foreign representatives to His Majesty,
the Tenno, February 5, 1877, as delivered by
Sir Harry S. Parkes, doyen.
On the part of the diplomatic corps I beg to express to Your Majesty the
sincere pleasure which it affords us to participate in the interesting
ceremony of the opening of a new line of railway to the ancient capital
of Your Majesty’s realm.
The invitation to be present on this occasion, with which Your Majesty
has graciously favored us, furnishes an unmistakable sign of the
friendship which marks the relations of Your Majesty with the sovereigns
and presidents whom we have the honor to represent. Bat this is not the
only meaning which that invitation conveys. It shows that Your Majesty
is sensible that a great industrial enterprise which so nearly affects
the welfare of so many of Your Majesty’s subjects affects also the
interests of foreigners who are resident in this land, and who will
always gladly join with Your Majesty’s people in promoting those works
of industry and peace which contribute to the brotherhood of nations and
to their mutual profit and prosperity.
In the case of the useful work now inaugurated by Your Majesty, both
native and foreign interests are so nearly allied that it is evident our
wishes for its success can scarcely be second to those which are
entertained by Your Majesty, your government, and your people. Great
difficulties attend the earlier, construction of railway works in any
country, and the way in which these difficulties have been overcome in
the present instance reflects high credit upon all concerned. But we may
be permitted to add that the event of to-day marks an epoch in the
history of Japan, for it furnishes a durable record of those new
relations which she has established with the world it is a proof of her
desire to advance as other nations have advanced, and also of the
intelligence and practical capacity of her people: and it shows how
closely Your Majesty identifies yourself with the interests of your
people and how willingly Your Majesty and your government labor to
promote the material progress of your nation.
These, may it please Your Majesty, are the sentiments which animate my
colleagues and myself in uniting with your loyal subjects in offering
our congratulations on this occasion. Most cordially do we join with
Your Majesty in wishing success to the Kiôto, Osaka and Hiogo Railway,
and to all the efforts which may be made by Your Majesty’s government to
provide your country with such means of communication and transport by
rail or road as may be best suited to its advancing requirements.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 514.]
Reply of His Majesty the Tenno to the address of the
foreign representatives.
To the foregoing address of the foreign representatives His Majesty the
Emperor replied, that he thanked the representatives of the treaty
powers for their presence on the occasion of the opening of the railway
between Kiôto and Hiogo, and for the sentiments which they had been
pleased to express in their address.
