Mr. Kennedy to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Received May 2)

(No. 52 Confidential)
My Lord, Yedo, March 14, 1880

I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that during a conversation which I held to-day with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, his Excellency, after remarking on the importance of the news recently reported from Peking, that the Chinese Government would refuse to abide by the terms of the Treaty lately negotiated with Russia respecting the Kuldja district, proceeded to denounce as groundless the newspaper reports which hinted at an understanding between Japan and Russia on a combined course of action towards China.
Russia, remarked his Excellency, is extremely desirous of obtaining a footing in Corea, and wished to share in the commercial privileges secured to Japan in the port of Gensan. But Japan, although anxious that all other nations should conclude Treaties with Corea, is herself unable to assist other nations in their attempts to put themselves in direct communication with Corea.
Japan, continued his Excellency, in rendering such assistance would neutralize, and probably annul, the advantages she had with much difficulty obtained in Corea. No symptom had, as yet, been exhibited by the Corean authorities of a decrease in their marked hostility to all foreigners.
This hostility, which had always existed, said his Excellency, had been strengthened by the savage proceedings of some foreigners, who, a few years ago, landed on a small island off the Corean coast, and, in the belief that many of the Corean Kings had been buried in gold and silver coffins in that island, these sailors commenced to excavate in the burial-grounds in the hope of plunder. Such proceedings had naturally outraged the feelings of the Coreans, and had even for some time hampered the progress of the Japanese, but, nevertheless, continued his Excellency, Japan has now obtained a firm footing in Corea, and we have hopes of receiving here a permanent Corean Mission before the end of this year, and we trust that by intercourse with the foreign Representatives in this city, the Corean Envoy may learn to modify the prejudices of his countrymen against foreigners.
I assured Mr. Inouyé that I had learnt with much satisfaction that no understanding existed between Japan and Russia with regard to China, and pointed out the advantage of settling the Loochooan question by direct understanding with China.
His Excellency replied that the advantage of settling the Loochooan question without any foreign intervention had always been evident to Japan, and that he felt sure of an amicable settlement of the dispute before long.
In concluding his remarks, Mr. Inouyé informed me that any suspicions which Great Britain might harbour of Russian endeavours to obtain influence with Japan were reciprocated by Russia, because quite lately M. de Struve, the Russian Minister, had inquired of him, whether it was true that Her Majesty’s Government had offered to mediate between China and Japan.
His Excellency also informed me that the United States’ Minister had announced the intention of his Government to send a surveying ship to the coasts of Corea, and requested the friendly support of Japan, to which request Mr. Inouyé replied by explaining to Mr. Bingham the difficulty of acceding to his demand.
On the subject of intercourse with Corea, Mr. Iwakura, the Third Minister of State, recently informed me that Corea should be approached through China, and not through Japan.

I have, &c.
(Signed)　　J.G. Kennedy