1869--AUDIENCE OF THE MIKADO AT YEDO
ON January 2 I went back to Yedo (as we long continued to call the
Eastern capital, being, like most Englishmen, averse to innovation). The
city had been opened to foreign trade and residence on the 1st, and dear
old William Willis was installed as H.M. vice-consul. He and Adams had
returned on December 29th, the one from caring for the wounded in Echigo
and Aidzu, the other from Hakodaté.
On January 5 we had an audience of the Mikado. On this occasion Sir
Harry asked a large number of naval and military officers, besides
Captain Stanhope, R.N., of the "Ocean," and Colonel Norman, in command
of the 2/ix. So the list of persons to be presented, fixed originally at
twelve, was increased to double that figure. As usual the chief had
mismanaged the business, because he insisted on doing it all himself
instead of leaving details to his subordinates, and he did not even know
the names of those who were to be presented. The Squadron furnished a
guard of a hundred marines. The costumes worn were very various,
especially those of the legation and consulate men. It was a terribly
cold day, snow falling, which changed into sleet, and then into rain by
the time we reached the castle, and what made things worse was that we
had to ride on horseback instead of driving in carriages. The audience
took place in the palace of the Nishi-no-Maru, just inside the Sakurada
Gate. We were allowed to ride over the first bridge, past the usual
_géba_ or notice to alight, right up to the abutments of the second
bridge, where we got down. Here we were met by Machida, who conducted us
into the courtyard, from which we ascended at once into the
ante-chamber. The Prince of Awa, Sanjô, Higashi-Kuzé, Nakayama Dainagon
and Okubo came in and exchanged the usual compliments. Then we were
ushered into a very dark room, where the Mikado was sitting under a
canopy rather larger than that used at Ozaka. It was so dark that we
could hardly distinguish his dress, but his face, which was whitened
artificially, shone out brightly from the surrounding obscurity. The
Prime Minister stood below on the right and after H.M. had uttered a few
words of inquiry about the Queen's health, and congratulated the chief
on continuing at Yedo as minister, read the Mikado's speech. To this Sir
Harry replied very neatly. After the audience, which took up no more
than five minutes, was over we cantered back to the old Legation
building in Takanawa, now converted into a branch of the Japanese
Foreign Office, where we had great feasting beginning by an
entertainment in Japanese style, very good of its kind, followed by a
late luncheon supplied from the hotel. Awa and Higashi-Kuzé presided in
our room. The American Minister and the North German Chargé d'Affaires
were also present. Higashi-Kuzé proposed the health of the Queen, the
President and the King of Prussia _en bloc_, after which we drank to the
health of the Mikado.
Katsu had come back to Yedo, and early in January was to start again for
Sumpu, to lay a foundation for negotiation with the Tokugawa runaway
ships at Hakodaté. On the 8th a review of the English troops in garrison
at Yokohama was held for the entertainment of the prince of Awa, as our
particular friend, and a party of young Court nobles. These were not men
of political importance, and I do not think we ever heard of them again.
The rapidity of the fire from the Snider rifles was a surprise to all
the spectators.
On the 9th the chief and I having ridden up to Yedo in the morning, he
had an important interview at Hama-goten, the sea-side palace of the
Shôguns, with Iwakura. Kido, Higashi-Kuzé and Machida were also present.
Many compliments were offered to Sir Harry, and assurances of the
gratitude which the Mikado's government felt for the hearty recognition
they had received from Great Britain. To this succeeded some
confidential conversation. It was intended that the Mikado should return
to Kiôto to be married, and also for the performance of certain funeral
rites in honour of his late father. When these ceremonies were completed
he would come again to his Eastern Capital to hold a great council of
the empire. The date of this was not yet fixed; it might be in the first
month of the Japanese calendar, perhaps in the third. Sir Harry advised
Iwakura to notify this to all the Foreign Representatives. The question
of foreign neutrality and the situation at Hakodaté were then discussed.
Iwakura denounced very eloquently those of the ministers who, while
recognising the Mikado as sovereign, granted the status of belligerents
to the Hakodaté pirates. Sir Harry declared for himself and the French
Minister, Outrey, that no neutrality existed, and that they did not
recognize Enomoto and his associates as belligerents; nor did van
Polsbroek. To this Iwakura responded: "Why does the American Minister
still allege a declaration of neutrality as the ground of his refusal to
hand over the 'Stonewall Jackson' to the lawful government?" Sir Harry
replied that the declaration in question had been of very great service
to the Mikado's government, that but for its existence Enomoto would now
be in possession of the iron-clad ram, and that he himself had been
mainly instrumental in procuring the signature of that document. This
was quite true. An excellent lunch was served from the hotel, and we
parted from our hosts just at sundown, both parties well satisfied with
each other.
I went on the 10th January to visit Siddall at his hospital on the other
side of the city; there I found Willis, who on the way there from
Tsukiji, the foreign Settlement, had been threatened by a swash-buckler.
We discussed together the means by which the Japanese government might
be induced to apply for the services of Willis for a year in order to
assist them in establishing their general hospital. So we told Ishigami
that Siddall was to be recalled to the Legation, and that Higashi-Kuzé
must ask for Willis. The Mikado had presented Willis with seven rolls of
beautiful gold brocade, and Higashi-Kuzé wrote a nice letter thanking
the dear old fellow for his services to the Japanese wounded warriors.
On January 12 we heard that the "Kaiyô-Maru" had sailed from Hakodaté,
with her rudder lashed to her stern; her destination was supposed to be
Esashi, where fighting was going on. It was believed that the pirates
were running short of money and rice. The Ainos were reported to have
joined the people of Matsumae in resisting the pirates.
I had some interesting conversation with Ikébé Goi, whom I went to see
on the 13th. At his lodgings I met a young man named Yoshida Magoichirô,
a councillor of the Yanagawa clan. We talked about Christianity, and
Ikébé cited the Sermon on the Mount as a composition that pleased him
more than anything written by Buddhist or Confucian Sages. I remarked
that the Christian religion reversed the Chinese saying: "Do not unto
others as ye would not that others should do unto you"; upon which he
quoted the command to turn the other cheek to be smitten. After a little
he began to talk about my chief's violence in conference, and said: "Now
in his case, when he gets in a rage, so far from offering the other
cheek, I feel inclined to kick him out of the room." Ikébé said that the
Mikado would leave for Kiôto about the 17th or 18th January, and that a
notification had been issued announcing his departure during the first
decade of the 12th month, to return again in the spring.
On the morning of the 15th I was summoned by the chief to Yokohama in a
great hurry to attend a conference between Iwakura and the foreign
colleagues. I rode the 20 miles on my pony "Fushimi," in two hours and a
half without drawing bridle, and arrived at the Legation to find the
conference just assembling. Iwakura addressed to the colleagues pretty
much the same arguments as he had made use of at Hama-goten on the 9th.
They put a number of questions to him by way of reply, and at last said
they could not give answer to so important a matter as he had laid
before them without mature consideration. Iwakura then said that he
would take the opportunity of saying a few words about the causes of the
existing political situation. The present Mikado was the descendant of
sovereigns who ruled the country more than 2000 years back; the
Shôgunate was an institution not more than 700 years old. Still, the
power had been in its hands, and it was during the continuance of its
authority that the Americans came to the country in 1853. The Shôgun's
people were sharp enough to see the necessity and advantage of entering
into relations with foreign countries, while the Mikado's Court,
followed by the greater part of the nation, professed the anti-foreign
policy. The country thus became disturbed, and the authority of the
Shôgun could no longer be maintained. Then both the Mikado and the
Shôgun died, and the latter's successor, a man of ability, was able to
see the absolute indispensability of a government directed by the
Mikado. Sincerely convinced of this, he surrendered the power into the
hands of the Mikado, not as a mere gift, but because it was the only way
of solving the political difficulties which existed. Thereupon the
Mikado's government changed its policy with regard to foreigners, and
did what never could have been done under the late sovereign, that is,
entered into relations with the Treaty Powers. Hitherto our relations
had been merely commercial, but the government hoped that they would
improve and become something like those which existed among European and
other civilized nations. The foreign ministers replied that they would
consult together, and send him a reply without delay.
Sir Harry came up on the 19th from Yokohama to tell Iwakura the result
of yesterday's conference of colleagues on the subject of neutrality. We
were to have met him at Hama-goten, but when we got there we found the
gates shut, and since no orders had been received to admit us, we came
away. As we were returning to the Legation Mori came after us in a great
hurry, and begged the chief to turn back, but he refused, and said
Iwakura might come to see him. This message was misunderstood by Mori,
and there was more delay, but at last everything was arranged, and
Iwakura came at half-past seven to the Legation, accompanied by
Higashi-Kuzé. Iwakura had sent through Mori to ask me to come to Yedo,
in order that he might speak to me personally, but I took no notice of
this request, treating it merely as an invitation to the chief, or
rather as a request to me to be present on the 19th in order to perform
interpretation. He asked Sir Harry what had been the result of the
conference of foreign ministers, and all he could say was that it had
been adjourned. It appeared that the colleagues were willing to make a
declaration that the war was over, but were not willing to give up the
"Stonewall Jackson"; and that in order to justify her retention they
would not withdraw their notifications of neutrality. To us this
appeared highly illogical. The chief, after Iwakura had repeated all his
arguments and had added that so far from desiring to get hold of the
"Stonewall" in order to attack Enomoto, the Mikado's government were
determined to offer him lenient terms, declared that in his own opinion
the war had ceased, and that the neutrality lapsed with it; and that he
was ready to state this in writing. Iwakura said that the Mikado was
very desirous of knowing the answers of the ministers, and had therefore
ordered him to stop behind for five days in order to try to settle this
question and to rejoin him at Shimidzu, a port on the Tôkaidô, that he
would like to get Sir Harry's answer confidentially, so that the Mikado
might have a pleasant souvenir to carry away with him. Another thing
Iwakura said was that the Mikado's government had made a sufficient
display of power by reducing the provinces of Oshiû and Déwa in six
months, whereas in former wars twelve years had been nothing
extraordinary; that their intention was to adopt a humane line of
conduct, and they had therefore ordered the two Tokugawas of Sumpu and
Mito to proceed against the remaining rebels, and if they succeeded in
arranging matters Keiki would be pardoned and restored to favour. He had
himself seen Katsu, who believed that the offer of lenient terms would
induce submission. The Mikado's government would not however consider
any capitulation satisfactory that was not accompanied by a complete
surrender of arms and ships of war. If the rebels proved obstinate they
must be reduced by force. This frank statement drew out a favourable
reply from Sir Harry. Iwakura also appeared to be alarmed about the
attitude of Russia, and asked whether she might not possibly enter into
an alliance with Enomoto. The chief thought this unlikely. The interview
lasted three hours, and ended with many thanks from Iwakura and
apologies for having kept Sir Harry waiting at the gate of Hama-goten.
The chief on his side undertook to do everything possible to bring his
colleagues round to his view and to induce them to send in their answer
by the 25th, and he engaged to publish his own reply in the "Japan
Herald" of the same day; that would be as decisive a manifestation of
his policy as he could possibly give. I was greatly pleased myself to
find that he had now made up his mind to "go the whole hog."
The Mikado passed through Takanawa about eight o'clock the following
morning, on his way back to Kiôto. His train appeared to be smaller than
on the occasion of his entry. News arrived from Hakodaté on January 21
that the "Kaiyô-maru" had got on the rocks near Esashi and was expected
to stick there; her guns had been thrown overboard and buoyed.
The sentences on Aidzu and Sendai were promulgated on the 21st, with the
penalties inflicted on other _daimiôs_ of the northern provinces, and a
few more who had held out to the last. The Aidzu princes were let off
with their lives, but the whole of their territories were confiscated.
Sendai was reduced from 625,000 to 280,000 _koku_. The reigning prince
was made to retire into private life, and was succeeded by a son of our
old friend, the Daté of Uwajima.
On the 22nd a further conference of the ministers was held with
reference to the question of withdrawing the declarations of neutrality,
and the little Italian minister, who came up to Yedo on the 23rd,
assured us that only Sir Harry and Polsbroek were willing to consent,
the others having refused. Letters however arrived from Sir Harry
showing that all the colleagues had agreed to write a _note identique_
acknowledging that the war was over, but demanding a short delay in
order to concert measures for the simultaneous withdrawal of their
notifications. Also a note from him instructing me to arrange an
interview with Iwakura for Adams and Montebello (Secretary of the French
Legation) in order that they might hand to him the petition which the
Tokugawa rebels at Hakodaté had asked M. Outrey and Sir Harry to forward
to the Mikado. The translation of this document was made and sent off at
once. Then, after learning from Higashi-Kuzé that 2 o'clock was fixed
for the interview, Mitford and I went off to Kido, to whom I gave a copy
of the _note identique_ about neutrality. He at once pitched on the
'short delay' clause as unsatisfactory, but I could only give him my
opinion that this was inserted as a sort of compromise; it was better, I
said, for the Mikado's government that all the ministers should agree to
recognise that the war was over, even with this slight drawback, than
that only two of them should have recognised the fact and the other four
have continued to declare themselves neutral. A memorandum reached us
from Adams stating the nature of the final arrangement, and suggesting
that the government should make it generally known by publishing the
correspondence in their official Gazette. Then I went off to
Higashi-Kuzé's place, to meet Adams, Montebello and Dubousquet,[11] who
arrived there about a quarter past two. Proceedings began by Montebello
handing in Outrey's copy of the _note identique_; Iwakura at once
pointed out the sentence in the letters of the English and French
ministers which spoke of 'a short delay,' and asked what was its
meaning. Both Adams and Montebello replied that they had no authority to
say anything on this point, but they undertook at his request to write
to their chiefs, and obtain if possible a definite date. I also
whispered to Yamaguchi Hanzô to tell Iwakura afterwards that Kido
already knew all about the compromise. The business of handing over the
petition of the Tokugawa rebels was then proceeded with. Iwakura was
told that in delivering this document the ministers did not offer any
opinion on its contents, and they renounced for themselves any idea of
acting as mediators; but that as the Japanese Foreign Minister had
expressed to both of them his desire to learn if possible the feelings
and intentions of the fugitives, they were very glad to have this
opportunity of complying with his request.
[11] An officer of the French Military Mission who devoted
himself to the study of the Japanese language, and
ultimately became interpreter to the French Legation.
Iwakura replied that these men had now been declared to be rebels, and
the two clans of Mito and Sumpu had been ordered out against them. That
the proper course to adopt in presenting the petition which he had just
read was to send it through the chiefs of those two clans. From the
hasty glance he had cast over the document he could not profess to judge
of its merits, but he was glad to see that the petitioners had some
desire, however slight, of returning to their allegiance. (But if he had
been aware of the extreme bumptiousness of the letter to Parkes and
Outrey in which the petitions were forwarded, he would hardly have
thought so.) Still, while thanking the ministers, and appreciating the
disinterestedness of their motives, he could not consent to receive the
petition through such a channel. Would the ministers mind forwarding it
through the Tokugawa clan?
Adams and Montebello declined to have any business relations with the
clan, and after some urging from the French side, Iwakura said he would
accept the petition temporarily and give his answer to-morrow. We then
returned home and Adams despatched a report to the chief. Next day (the
25th) in the afternoon came fresh instructions. Adams was to go to
Iwakura, inform him of the surprise felt by both ministers at the
refusal to accept the petition, and state that the expression 'a short
delay' in the _note identique_ respecting neutrality meant what it said.
After consultation with Montebello, it was decided to ask for an
interview with Iwakura at 10 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, and a
letter to that effect was sent off to Higashi-Kuzé. Before an answer
could be received at the Legations there came a letter from Yamaguchi
Hanzô written by Iwakura's order, refusing to accept the petition, and
saying that as he was going down to Yokohama next day to see the
representatives on the subject of neutrality, he would take the
opportunity of speaking to the two ministers about the other matter as
well. However Higashi-Kuzé's reply to our letter soon arrived to say
that Iwakura's departure was postponed for a day, and that he would see
the two secretaries as proposed by them.
On the 26th, as I was unwell, Mitford went in my stead to interpret for
Adams. Iwakura receded from his previous attitude, and declared himself
ready to receive the petition from the two ministers, but that he
intended to return it to the Tokugawa fugitives without taking any
notice of its contents. Further, that he was determined to demand from
the ministers the meaning of the words 'a short delay.' He also
addressed a letter to the two ministers thanking them for the trouble
they had taken about the petition, which he characterized as
impertinent; it would therefore have to be returned direct. This was a
slap in the face for our two chiefs, who ought never to have presented
the petition, considering the covering letters received by them, which
threatened to throw down the gauntlet to the Mikado's government if it
did not leave them in quiet possession of Yezo. But Sir Harry was drawn
on by the fear that Outrey would manage to get the petition accepted,
and thereby win prestige; but if so, Outrey's little game was frustrated
by Iwakura's good luck or perspicacity.
The following day I had to rush down to Yokohama for Iwakura's meeting
with the Foreign Representatives. He asked what they meant by 'a short
time.' They appeared to him to have had time enough already. When
issuing their original notifications of neutrality they had acted
immediately on receiving the communication of the Mikado's government,
and why hesitate now? The colleagues fenced a little with the question
and then retired into another room to consider their answer. When they
emerged they announced their readiness to issue proclamations in
fourteen days' time at the furthest. With this Iwakura was forced to be
content. But our chief had gained the battle, and was correspondingly
rejoiced. Iwakura left the same afternoon in the "Keangsoo"[12] for the
port of Toba in Shima. Higashi-Kuzé informed the ministers that Yedo was
to be the capital of the country, after the Mikado's return there next
Japanese New-Year, but this decision was not at present to be made
public. He displayed a map of the city and offered them the whole
waterside from the Kanasugi Bridge to the Hotel, except the Owari
_yashiki_, where the Foreign Office was to be, for sites on which to
build Legations. All but Sir Harry declared their unwillingness to
accept sites; I remarked to myself that he was gradually getting out of
the bad habit of believing all the Japanese told him to be lies.
[12] Originally the flagship of Captain Sherard Osborn, when in
command of the Chinese flotilla brought out by H. N. Lay,
and afterwards bought by Satsuma.