155
be best
leave it to
you & to him to determine whether the inquiries may be made by both of you conjointly
whether
("
time may
any economy of be best effected by a division of labour they will resolve.
of
The
The proceedings of the Japanese officers who are about to be sent to the Bonin Islands form the most important subject of observation & I feel therefore that it is
«
undesirable that the "Curlew" should proceed there until those officers take their departure - should this however be delayed beyond the 25th Inst. Considerations relative to the
weather render it desirable that she should visit the islands without them & proceed with the
you
other
other subjects of inquiry.
Lt. Plunkett, the Lt. of Legation will inform you in
my absence of the progress of the preparations being made for the despatch of the Japanese officers. If you
when they
are
visit the islands
you
will freely
there. Y
communicate with them & observe
their proceedings. I do not think
it
or advisable that
you
necessarily should give any formal recognition
to
any step which they may take denoting Japanese sovereignty or authority
over the islands.
I have to
(s) A: S. Parkes
P.S. Since writing the above I have received an intimation from the Foreign Minister that the "Hey-
Maru