145
Chargé d'Affaires at Peking
It appears that Mr Hayashi has been appointed Vice Consul at this Post.
He produced his appointment under The Great Seal of his Country and the Sign Manual of the Mikado, and at my request he has furnished me with a copy of the document together with a translation which I enclose.
I pointed out to him that the usual course would have been for him to have assumed charge of his post and for me to have forwarded his exequatur through Your Lordship to the proper Quarter.
Having regard to the peculiar circumstances of the case, and to the fact that Mr Hayashi has arrived here with full credentials from his Government, and has acted under the advice of Her Majesty's Chargé d'affaires, I have deemed it only proper to recognize his right to act as Vice Consul.
The Japanese Minister in London has applied for an exequatur, and in reply he stated that Mr Watson had advised him to take out a provisional exequatur until Her Majesty's pleasure was known.
Nevertheless, I trust that this action will not complicate matters.