His Excellency
John A Bingham
&c &c

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge Y.E.’s dispatch dated the 12th March 1880, wherein Y.E. acquaints me that Commodore R.W. Shufeldt U.S.N. Commanding the U.S. Flagship, “Ticonderoga” is expected to shortly visit the open ports of Corea on a friendly mission from the United States Government to that of Corea, and requesting me to furnish Y.E. with letters to the Japanese Officials in Corea and also to the Corean Officials, commending the Commodore to their favorable consideration.
I beg leave, in reply, to say that a very few years have elapsed since the conclusion of the treaty of friendship between Japan and Corea and that the time has not as yet arrived for putting into full execution the stipulations of the said treaty, furthermore that the Corean Government, not being familiar with foreign intercourse, appears still disinclined to open the country to foreigners. I beg therefore to say that if the introduction of Comdore Shufeldt to the Corean Officials should be granted according to Y.E.’s request, I fear that it might give rise to some complications whereby the execution of our treaty with that country might be somewhat prevented. I greatly regret, therefore, that I am at present unable to comply with Y.E.’s wishes.
I may add that in my opinion, it would not be the best policy for the present to furnish any letters of introduction to the officials of Corea, but I am willing to advise the Japanese Officers in Corea to do the best in their power in facilitating the said mission.

I avail myself &c
(sgd.) Inouye Kaoru
H.I.J.M. Minister for Foreign Affairs

【日譯文】

［朱書］「第十四號」「四月七目」
米國公使宛
井上外務卿

以書簡致啓上候陳者千八百八十年三月十三日附貴簡ヲ以貴國軍艦チコンヂラゴ號ヲ致指揮候コモドール、アール・ダブリユ・シユフヱルト氏貴國政府ヨリ朝鮮國政府へ親睦之使命ヲ奉シ同國開港場へ入港ノ筈ニ付在朝鮮國我國官吏及ヒ同國官吏へ右コモドール、アール・ダブリユ・シユフヱルト氏ヲ款待候様依頼ノ書簡御所望ノ趣致承知候然ルニ我國朝鮮國ト修好條規取結テヨリ日尚浅クシテ未タ右條約中ノ條款ヲ充分履行スルノ秋ニ不至且同國政府ハ外交ニ不馴忌憚ノ情アルヲ以テ今御来意ニ應シ同國官吏へ右コモドールヲ紹介スル時ハ或ハ為夫我國ト同國間ノ條約履行上多少障碍ニ可相成哉モ難計其邊懸念不尠因テ同國官吏エ添書ノ義ハ方今ノ良策ニ無之ト存候間乍御氣ノ毒御來意ニ難應尤出來丈ノ事ハ御都合ニ相成候樣同國在留我官吏へ委曲內諭可致置候右様御了承有之度此段囘答得貴意候敬具

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