La somme restante de 3,307,224 rix-dalers rigsmynt tombe à la charge des Puissances non-représentées dans la négociation actuelle, en tant que ces Puissances ont pu être spécifiées au Tableau N B. Le Délégué de Danemarc déclare, comme expressément entendu, que les Gouvernements adhérant aux propositions qu'il a faites ne seront éventuellement responsables que pour la quotepart tombant à la charge de chacun d'eux suivant la répartition ci-dessus indiquée. Le Délégué de Sa Majesté l'Empereur de Toutes les Russies renouvelle l'adhésion du Cabinet Impérial déjà exprimée par lui dans la Conférence du 2 Février, tant pour ce qui concerne le principe du rachat qu'en ce qui concerne le mode de répartition proposé par le Gouvernement Danois. Le Délégué de l'Empereur déclare en même temps que le Cabinet Impérial consent à contribuer au rachat des péages du Sund pour la quotepart tombant à la charge de la Russie d'après la répartition ci-dessus indiquée, à la condition toutefois que toutes les Puissances représentées dans la négociation actuelle consentent aussi de leur côté aux mêmes conditions du rachat du péage du Sund. Le Délégué de Danemarc accepte cette réserve, en la déclarant conforme aux intentions de son propre Gouvernement. Le Délégué de Sa Majesté le Roi de Suède et de Norvège déclare que son Gouvernement accepte les propositions du Gouvernement Danois tant pour ce qui regarde le principe du rachat. qu'en ce qui concerne le montant de l'indemnité demandé par le Danemarc. Les Délégués de Russie, et de Suède et de Norvège (de Suède et de Norvège, et de Russie) font observer que le mode de payement des différentes quoteparts doit faire l'objet d'une négociation spéciale entre le Danemarc, d'une part, et chacune des Puissances Contractantes, de l'autre part, et réservent par conséquent à uno entente particulière de fixer le mode et le terme de payement des quoteparts tombant respectivement à la charge de la Russie, et de la Suède et de la Norvège (de la Suède et de la Norvège, et de la Russie). Le Délégué de Danemarc adhère à cette observation. Enfin, le même Délégué ayant fait observer que la négociation actuelle se trouve momentanément arrêtée par suite de divergences d'opinion survenues entre le Gouvernement Danois et celui de Sa Majesté Britannique, que par conséquent les travaux de la Conférence sur le péage pourraient rester en suspens un laps de temps dont il est impossible de fixer le terme, le Délégué de Russie déclare que l'adhésion du Gouvernement Impérial aux propositions Danoises, telle qu'elle a été formulée plus haut, restera en pleine vigueur jusqu'au moment où le Cabinet de Copenhague lui-même déclarerait la négociation rompue et retirerait les propositions qu'il a faites. Le Délégué de Danemarc ayant exprimé toute la satisfaction avec laquelle il prend acte de cette déclaration, et le Délégué de la Suède et de la Norvège ayant déclaré être persuadé qu'il sera autorisé à faire une déclaration analogue aussitôt qu'il aura reçu les instructions qui, le cas n'ayant point été prévu, n'ont pas encore pu lui être données, les Délégués présents conviennent de laisser le Protocole ouvert à l'accession éventuelle des autres Gouvernements traitant avec le Danemarc sur un arrangement définitif de l'affaire du Sund et des Belts. Fait à Copenhague, le 9 Mai, 1856. (L.S.) BLUHME. (L.S.) TEGOBORSKI. (L.S.) LAGERHEIM. CORRESPONDENCE respecting the late Negotiation with Japan.-1854-1856.* No.1.-The Secretary of the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond.—(Rec.Dec.20.) (Extract.) Admiralty, December 19, 1854. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you, for the information of the Earl of Clarendon, a despatch, with its inclosures, from Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling, upon the subject of a Convention which had been signed by the Rear-Admiral, for opening certain ports in Japan to British ships; and I am to request you will move Lord Clarendon to favour my Lords with his opinion as to the answer that should be addressed to Sir James Stirling. E. Hammond, Esq. R. OSBORNE. (Inclosure 1.)-Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling to the Secretary of the Admiralty. (Extract.) Winchester, at Sea, Lat. 22° 8' N., Long. 114° 10′ E., In accordance with the intention communicated to you in my letter of the 22nd of August last, I left Woosung, with the ships named in the margin,† upon the 25th of that month; and having made the land in the neighbourhood of Nagasaki on the 6th of September, I entered that port on the following day. Laid before Parliament, 1856. The reasons which induced me to pay a visit to Japan at the time mentioned were, in the first place, the chance it offered of finding the Russians in a quarter in which they had passed considerable portions of the previous 12 months; and, in the second place, the opportunity it gave me of making such arrangements as should prevent the enemy from making use of the ports and resources of Japan for the purposes of equipping and recruiting cruizers, and of harbouring their prizes; a result which, as Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Naval Forces in these seas, it became my duty most carefully to guard against. On arriving at Nagasaki I learnt that the Russians had left that place about the end of April last, and had not since been heard of. It therefore remained for me to apply myself to the other object of my visit; and I accordingly addressed a letter to the Governor of the province, which led to an interesting and protracted negotiation. A Convention was ultimately executed by me (as Commander-inChief) in the English language, and according to English form, an exact counterpart of which, similarly executed, was delivered by me, as my engagement, to the two Japanese Commissioners acting under orders from the Imperial Government of Japan. A corresponding version of the same Convention in Japanese was executed in my presence by the Japanese Commissioners according to their own forms, and delivered to me in exchange for the English version above-mentioned. The direct effects of the agreement thus entered into are: that It opens absolutely and at once to British ships of every description two of the most convenient harbours in Japan; It opens inferentially to British ships in distress any other port in Japan it may be expedient for them to seek shelter in; It secures eventually to British ships and subjects in every port of Japan which may be hereafter open to foreigners, equal advantages with the ships and subjects of the most favoured nation, excepting only the advantages at present accorded to the Dutch and Chinese; and it imposes in return for these concessions no other obligation on British ships and subjects than that of respecting the laws and ordinances of the ports they visit. This agreement will cease at the end of 12 months from the date of execution, unless it shall be honoured with Her Majesty's ratification; but in this latter event it will acquire thereby a permanent character. In the meanwhile, taken in conjunction with circumstances elicited in the course of the negotiation, it is evident that it puts an end to any apprehension that the Russians will be permitted in any way to avail themselves of the ports and resources of Japan for purposes of war; and although it makes no sort of provision for commercial intercourse, it affords the means of cultivating a friendly understanding with the Government and people of an extensive empire, whose neutrality in war and friendship at all times are matters of vital importance to British interests in the adjacent seas. Having thus endeavoured to place in the shortest and clearest manner this important transaction before their Lordships, in order that such measures may be taken in respect of its adoption or repudiation as Her Majesty's Government may deem expedient, I venture to point out that in no part of the negotiation did I pretend to have been sent by Her Majesty's Government in any other capacity than that of the Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's ships and vessels on this station. In that capacity alone I sought at first the solution of a question which it was essential to the operations of my force to have solved, and although at the suggestion of the Japanese Government the negotiation ultimately took a more extensive and important character than that which I originally contemplated, I trust the Convention finally agreed upon may appear to their Lordships as nothing more than a proper provision for the security of interests confided to my care. The Secretary to the Admiralty. JS. STIRLING. Nagasaki. (Inclosure 2.)-Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling to the Governor of (Extract.) September 7, 1854. THE Undersigned has the honour to transmit to your Excellency herewith a copy of a proclamation,* by which it will be seen that Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain (in conjunction with her allies) has been compelled to declare war against Russia in defence of the liberties of Europe. The Undersigned has also the honour to state that he is the Commander-in-Chief of the naval forces of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain appointed to carry on the war in the Eastern Seas, and that the squadron now here, and other squadrons of her ships while so employed, will have frequent occasion to visit the coasts and ports of Japan, in order to prevent the Russian ships of war and their prizes from making use of those ports, to the detriment of the interests of Great Britain and her allies. In conformity, however, with the friendly disposition of the British Government, it will be the anxious desire of the Undersigned, in the execution of the duties imposed on him by a state of war, to avoid, as far as possible, the commission of any act which may justly give offence to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan, or his subjects; but in order to accomplish this wish, it is * Page 48 absolutely necessary that he shall be informed of the views and intentions of the Japanese Government, with respect to the admission into its ports of the ships of war of the belligerent parties in the present contest. He therefore requests your Excellency to take all necessary measures for ascertaining and communicating to him the views and intentions of your Government upon this subject, not only in reference to the port of Nagasaki, but also in regard to all other ports and places within the Japanese territory. On board Her Majesty's ship the Winchester, this 7th day of September, and in the year 1854. The Governor of Nagasaki. JS. STIRLING. (Inclosure 3.)—Minute of a Communication between the Governor of Nagasaki and Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling, on the 9th September, 1854. (Extract.) THE same Japanese officer who had received the Admiral's letter on the 7th instant, came on board with a message from the Governor, to say that the translation of the Admiral's letter was not finished till last night, and that as the Governor had no means of writing in English he had sent him off to acknowledge the receipt of it verbally. He said that the Governor perfectly understood the purport of its contents, but not being competent to answer them, he had sent it overland to Jeddo last night so soon as the translation was finished. The Governor was very desirous that an answer should arrive soon, but could not say how long the Emperor would take to consider of it. Being pressed as to the probable time, the officer said it would take a month before an answer could be returned, as there was an overland journey of nearly 400 miles, and some high mountains to be crossed. (Inclosure 4.)—Rear-Admiral Sir James Stirling to the Governor of Nagasaki. YOUR EXCELLENCY, September 27, 1854. TWENTY days having passed since I had the honour to address a despatch to you, and no answer having been made to the important question it contained, I propose to proceed to Jeddo, with a view to demand an answer from the Imperial Government. For the civility and courtesy your Excellency has personally evinced towards me through your messenger during my stay in this port, I request you will accept my acknowledgments and thanks. |