As information was received that only such contributions as were made
directly to the Government were to be declined, this generous expression
of sympathy consisting of voluntary contributions made through the
Japanese Red Cross to the American National Red Cross for the purpose of
this relief work was accepted by the President of the Red Cross in the
following letter:
WASHINGTON, D. C., _May 8, 1906_.
_Your Excellency_:
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 5th of
May, in which you inform me that the Red Cross Society of
Japan has solicited contributions from the general public in
Japan for the relief of distress caused to the population of
California by the recent earthquake, and has transmitted to
you by telegraph the sum of $50,000, with a request that it
be applied to the above-named purpose through the American
National Red Cross. Your Excellency asks that I advise you
whether I can use my good offices in the premises.
In reply I beg, on behalf of the American National Red Cross,
to express its gratitude and that of the people of California,
for the generosity of the Japanese Red Cross and the people
of Japan, and to say that I shall be glad, on behalf of the
American National Red Cross, to receive the contributions
mentioned, and to expend them for the purposes mentioned in
Your Excellency’s letter.