No. 65
Yedo,
May 25, 1875

My Lord,

I have the honour to forward copy of a dispatch I addressed to Mr. Wade on the 22nd instant relative to the affairs of Corea, and in particular to the reported despatch of two Japanese gunboats to Corean waters.
I am assured by the Foreign Minister that this report is incorrect, and that the gunboats in question are only being sent to Tsushima for surveying purposes. Nothing definite appears to have yet resulted from the mission of Moriyama to Corea which I reported in my despatches No. 24 and 33 of February last, but the Government expect that he will shortly return and report his proceedings.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect,
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most Obedient,
Humble Servant,
Harry S. Parkes

Inclosure 1

Yedo, May 22, 1875

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 17th ultimo enclosing two highly interesting Memoranda by Mr. Mayers relative to the political condition of Corea. It is owing to my absence from Yedo that I have not been able to tender you sooner my best thanks for these valuable papers.
The Envoy of the Japanese Government referred to in one of these papers returned to the Japanese settlement in Corea last February, and the Japanese Government entertain the hope that the deposition of the Regent will lead to the establishment of more favourable relations than those which have hitherto obtained between the two countries. The Japanese Ministers assure me that they have no idea of coercing Corea into more intimate relations and will be content if these should improve only very gradually; they also are that Japan assumes no position of superiority in her negotiations with Corea, and is quite prepared to treat with the latter as an equal.
At the same time I observe it stated in the local press that two Japanese gun vessels have recently been ordered to proceed to Corea, and report says that they are to go to the West Coast and to survey the approaches to the Capital. The Japanese Foreign Minister has stated to me that this report is incorrect, that the vessels in questions are being sent to cruize for surveying practice only, that they will confine their operations to the Island of Tsushima (which is in sight of Corea), and that they have not been authorized to cross to the Corean Coast. The event will show how far this plan of proceeding will be adhered to.

I leave &c,
(signed) Harry S. Parkes