デジタル版『渋沢栄一伝記資料』

大正11年5月6日（1922年）

是ヨリ先二月二十五日、当委員会ハ日米両国高等聯合委員設置ニ関シ、栄一等七名ノ実行委員ヲ挙ゲテ外務当局ト協議ス。五月三日栄一、アメリカ合衆国特命全権大使チャールズ・ビー・ウォレンヲ同大使館ニ訪ネテ同国政府ノ態度ヲ打診シ、直ニサン・フランシスコ米日関係委員会会長ウォレス・エム・アレグザンダーニ対シテ電報ヲ発シ、右運動ノ促進ヲ謀ル。翌四日更ニ右ノ趣ヲ書通ス。是日ニュー・ヨーク米日関係委員会会長ジョージ・
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ダブリュー・ウィカシャムニモ之ヲ謀ル。

集会日時通知表　大正一一年　（渋沢子爵家所蔵）
五月三日　水　午前九時　米大使ヲ御訪問ノ約（同大使館）

渋沢栄一書翰（抄写）　ウォレス・エム・アレグザンダー宛（一九二二年五月四日）
　　　　　　　　　　　　（シドニー・エル・ギューリック氏所蔵）
　　　　　　　Copy of Part of Viscount Shibusawa's
　　　　　　　　　Letter to Mr. W. M. Alexander
　　　　　　　　　　　----------------------
　　The proposed appointment of a High Joint Commission which I had the pleasure of discussing with you and your friends while in your city, has since received due attention on my part and on the part of my colleagues of the Japanese American Relations Committee here. They are all gratified to know that this plan of settling the problems affecting the Japanese residents in America ---- a plan originally suggested by our Committee two years ago ---- has been approved of and definitely taken up by your Committee in San Francisco.
　　With a view to taking active steps for carrying out the project, our Committee, after deliberate consideration of the whole matter at a meeting convened on February 25, appointed a Special Committee of seven consisting of the following gentlemen : Viscount K. Kaneko, Baron Y. Sakatani, Dr. J. Soyeda, Dr. M. Anesaki, Dr. S. Yamada, Mr. M. Zumoto and Viscount E. Shibusawa.
　　As the result of repeated exchanges of views with the authorities of the Foreign Office, we were assured that the suggestion would be acted upon by the Japanese Government in case similar course prove agreeable to the American Government. We consequently wired you to that effect, under date of May 3. I presume the message duly reached you, by way of confirmation I herewith transcribe the telegram as follows :
　　　"Anent your committee's resolution concerning appointment of high joint commission I am authorized by our committee to inform you that we have reason to believe Japanese Government will do likewise stop we therefore ask you to take steps to bring matter before your Government and ascertain its attitude".
　　For your private information and also for that of your friends, I think it well to tell you that I have had an informal conversation on this question with Mr. Warren, the American Ambassador to Japan, yesterday. I regret I cannot say he
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gave me much encouragement as to the prospect of the American Government's approving the suggested plan. He on the contrary pointed out some of the difficulties in the way from American points of view. He, however, assured me that, so far as he was concerned, nothing would be done in any way to interfere with the promotion of the scheme, and also that he should not be quoted as though he had anything to do with it. That was all he could say, and it was not much, but then hardly anything else could have been expected from a man in his responsible position.
　　We have also thought it advisable to communicate the re《(sic)》 wa to our friends in New York who showed much interest in this question when they were here in the spring of 1920 shortly after your departure. I have consequently written to Mr. Frank Vanderlip and Mr. George Woodward Wickersham, Chairman of the National Committee on the American Japanese Relations, telling them briefly of the development that has so far taken place toward the realization of the proposed appointment of a High Joint Committee.
　　It is our earnest hope that your Committee, separately or in conjunction with the Committee in New York, will take the matter up with the Government at Washington at the earliest opportunity convenient to you. So far as our Government is concerned, we feel confident that there no longer exists any difficulty in the way to the adoption of the course recommended, but it is only natural that our authorities feel awkward to take the initiative in the matter unless they were assured that there were at least some prospects of it being favourably met by the American Government.
　　Under these circumstances, we have now to leave the matter entirely in your hands, trusting to your active interest and wise judgment for the realization of the scheme which both our Committees are agreed in considering as the most desirable and efficient means of having all the outstanding problems between the two countries solved.
　　　○文中ノyesterdayハ前掲「集会日時通知表」ニヨレバ五月三日ナル故、本書翰ハ五月四日付ナルベシ。
　　　○本書翰ニ対スルアレグザンダーノ返書見当ラズ。
　　　○本書翰中planトアルハ聯合高等委員設置案ヲイフ。
　　　○本書翰ハ後掲五月六日附ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム宛書状中ニ同封セラレタルモノト同一ナルベシ。今シドニー・エル・ギューリック博士所蔵文書ニ拠ル。

渋沢栄一書翰　ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム宛一九二二年五月六日
　　　　　　　　　（ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム氏所蔵）
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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(COPY)
　　　(Letterhead of) Viscount Shibusawa
　　　　　　　　　　　2 Kabutocho Nihonbashi
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tokyo
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　May 6, 1922.
Mr. George Woodward Wickersham,
　　Chairman, National Committee on
　　American Japanese Relations,
　　287 4th Avenue, New York, N. Y.
My dear Mr. Wickersham :
　　It was my good fortune during my last visit to America to meet you personally and be given the pleasure and privilege of a place among your valued acquaintance and friendship.
　　Nothing gave me more satisfaction than see you preside over the newly created organization in New York which is destined to play a great part in the promotion of friendship between the two countries. I mean the National Committee on American Japanese Relations. I was particularly gratified to know that you were prepared to undertake the difficult but important work of checking up press misstatements regarding what concerns both nations. And I am glad to know from indirect sources that the work is already in actual operation.
　　You will be interested to know that the Japanese American Relations Committee of Tokyo has not been remiss in doing its part in connection with this matter. At its meeting of May 2, it added a new clause to its constitution authorizing it to undertake work of correcting misstatements in the press concerning America and Japan. On the same occasion another clause was newly adopted, providing that the Committee shall cooperate with the New York Committee, as with the San Francisco Committee, for the promotion of good understanding between the two nations.
　　I beg herewith to enclose a copy of part of my last letter to Mr. Wallace M. Alexander, Chairman of the American Japanese Relations Committee of San Francisco. As you may have heard from some of your friends, this suggestion as to the appointment of a High Joint Commission to devise some methods of settling the outstanding difficulties between the two countries formed a subject of discussion when Mr. Vanderlip's party came here. It had also been discussed with Mr. Alexander's party shortly before. Although the proposal seemed to be favoured by the American gentlemen, but nothing came of it, until January last when on the eve of my departure from San Francisco the matter was definitely taken up by Mr. Alexander and his friends. For the rest of the story, I must refer you to the enclosed copy of my letter to Mr. Alexander. I hope you
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will consider this matter well and if it recommends itself to you, you will kindly use your powerful influence for the realization of the object kept in view.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　With kind regards, I remain Yours truly,

（ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム）書翰控　渋沢栄一宛　一九二二年六月六日
　　　　　　　　　（ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム氏所蔵）
　　　　　　　　　　　(COPY)
CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT
　　　40 WALL STREET, NEW YORK
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　June 6, 1922.
His Excellency,
　　Viscount Shibusawa,
　　　　2 Kabutocho Nihonbashi,
　　　　Tokyo, Japan.
My dear Viscount:
　　I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 6th, and to express to you the great pleasure and privilege I felt it was to meet you when you were in this country. The Committee on American Japanese Relations has not found it possible to carry out the organization which it had in contemplation when you were here, respecting publications in the press. One reason probably is that since the Conference on Limitation of Naval Armament, the attitude of the press towards Japan and things Japanese has very materially modified, and our attention has not been called to any serious attacks upon Japan in the American press. There is no doubt that the attitude and conduct of the Japanese delegates at the Washington Conference produced a most excellent effect upon the American people. It was felt that they were sincerely desirous of joining with the other civilized nations in agreements tending towards the preservation of the peace of the world, and a very different impression of the attitude of the Japanese Government was derived from the acts of those gentlemen than that which had previously prevailed in the popular mind.
　　The suggestion of the appointment of a joint high commission of the two Governments for the purpose of settling outstanding difficulties between the two countries is interesting, and would, no doubt, be productive of considerable good, but the extreme sensitiveness of the Senate of the United States on any point affecting international relations would, I fear, react upon the State Department, and make such a step improbable of accomplishment, save in the regrettable event of some actual acute difference arising between the two coun-
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tries. However, the suggestion is one which is of very great interest, and I will take pleasure in discussing it with the members of my Committee.
　　I beg to convey to you, my dear Viscount, an expression of my highest esteem, and I remain,
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours faithfully,
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　GWW-B GEO. W. WICKERSHAM

渋沢栄一書翰　ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム宛一九二二年八月一七日
　　　　　　　　（ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシャム氏所蔵）
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(COPY)
　　(Letterhead of) Japanese American Relations
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Committee
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　August 17, 1922.
Mr. Geo. W. Wickersham
　　40 Wall Street,
　　New York City.
My dear Mr. Wickerhsam :
　　Your favor of June 6th duly reached me and I was very glad to hear from you. It is a real Gospel for us who have been struggling for years to have better understanding and cordial relationship between your people and ours to hear that the work of correcting misstatements about Japan, which used to appear in American newspapers became almost unnecessary.
　　Regarding the creation of a High Joint Commission, it seems to be your opinion that the Senate of the United States is very sensitive about international relations, which sensitiveness has its effect upon the State Department and that therefore the idea of High Joint Commission may not be entertained by that Department save some pending international difficulties call for an extraordinary action. But here is this about the California Japanese question that up to the present every conceivable method for its solution has been tried all in vain. One thing remains untried and that is the creation of the Commission just referred to. I shall be greatly obliged to you if you confer with your colleagues about this matter and give me summary of their thoughts about the matter.
　　Trusting that this letter will find you in the best of health, I beg to remain,
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yours very truly,

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　E. Shibusawa.

（ジョージ・ダブリュー・ウィカシヤム）書翰控　渋沢栄一宛一九二二年九月一八日
　　　　　　　　　　（ジョージ・ダブリユー・ウィカシヤム氏所蔵）
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　　　　　　　　　　(COPY)
CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT
　　　40 WALL STREET, NEW YORK
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　September 18, 1922.
His Excellency,
　　Viscount Shibusawa,
　　　　Committee on Japanese American Relations,
　　　　Tokio, Japan.
My dear Viscount :
　　I beg to acknowledge receipt of your good letter of the 17th ultimo. I am just returned from my vacation, and have had no opportunity yet to confer with my colleagues on the Committee on American Japanese Relations with respect to the subject of your letter. Of course, the appointment of a Joint Commission could only be brought about through diplomatic methods of approach between your Embassy and the American State Department. How feasible this would be, it is impossible for any outsider to determine.
　　　　　　　　　　　　Faithfully yours ,
GWW-B　　　　　　　　　GEO. W. WICKERSHAM

（阪谷芳郎）日米関係委員会日記　大正一一年
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（阪谷子爵家所蔵）
　十一、五、十七　王子邸ニワルレン大使招待、聯合委員ノ件懇談アリシ由、渋沢・金子・添田・頭本等、余ハ欠席ス