デジタル版『渋沢栄一伝記資料』

大正12年9月（1923年）

是月以降、関東大震火災ニ対シアメリカ合衆国及ビ其他ノ国ノ栄一ノ関係団体及ビ友人ヨリ、栄一ニ見舞及ビ災害救援ノ申出アリ。栄一其都度其厚意ヲ謝シ、希望ヲ回答ス。

54．　ローランド・エス・モリス

（ローランド・エス・モリス）書翰　　渋沢栄一宛一九二三年一〇月二四日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（渋沢子爵家所蔵）
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Philadelphia, 24 October 1923
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　1617 Land Title Building.
My dear Viscount Shibusawa :
　　I tried to send a cable through to you at the time of the great catastrophe but fear that you may not have received it as I learned later that many telegrams were not delivered for many days after the earthquake and fire. In the meantime I received your very kind telegram telling me of your miraculous escape and the safety of your family and now I am happy in receipt of your letter confirming these facts. I feel that it means so very much to Japan that your life was saved so that you might co-operate in the plans for reconstruction which are being so bravely undertaken by your Government and the people of your country. I wish you were here to observe for yourself how deep has been the sympathy of all the American people in this hour of Japan's trial. It has expressed itself not only in the generous contributions made to the Red Cross but also in the real sorrow which has been shown for the many lives that were lost and the great burdens which it imposed upon those who survived. It is hard to see the meaning of such calamities but perhaps out of it will grow a spiritually richer and stronger Japan than ever before. In addition I do feel that it has done much to unite our respective people in closer bonds of sympathy and understanding ― the very object to which you have so generously devoted your life and labors.
　　In studying the contributions of the Red Cross I was in
 - 第40巻 p.249 -ページ画像 
terested to note that the State of California, where there has been so much opposition and apparent friction, contributed almost four times as much towards Red Cross relief for Japan than was given by all of the New England States. It was also of great interest to me to observe the generous response which was made by the people of the Hawaiian Islands. These facts do seem significant and are, I hope, the promise of a better relationship than has existed between our countries even in the earlier days.
　　May I ask you to present my sincere respects to the members of your family and accept this expression of my great gratitude that your ilfe and their lives have been spared.
　　With deep respect and esteem, believe me,
　　　　　　　　　　　　Very sincerely yours,
　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Signed) Roland S. Morris
Viscount Eiichi Sibusawa
　　Tokyo, Japan.
（右訳文）
　　　　　　　　　　　　（栄一墨書）
　　　　　　　　　　　　十二月十六日閲、相当之回答案
　　　　　　　　　　　　取調可申事
　東京市　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（十一月廿日入手）
　　渋沢子爵閣下
　　　　　　　フヰラデルフヰア、一九二三年十月廿四日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　ローランド・エス・モーリス
拝啓
大震災当時小生は早速電報を以て御見舞申上候へども、後日聞く処によれば、当時多くの電報が配達せられざりし由に付、拙電も或は不配達と相成しにはあらずやと懸念罷在候、然る処閣下が不思議に災厄を免れさせられ、御家族様も御無事との由を貴電により承知致し、欣喜罷在候、今日再び貴信により右の事実を確むることを得申候
大震災に際し閣下には御無事にて、目下日本官民の協力によつて勇敢に着手せられ居る復興計画に参加被遊候は日本の為に慶賀に不堪処に候、日本の大惨害に際し、米国民は如何に深厚なる同情を寄せたるかは親しく閣下の御覧を願度き心地したる処に候、右は赤十字社の募集せる義捐金の応募状況、多数の遭難死亡者に対する哀悼の情及生存者の担へる大なる責任に対する同情によりて御察しの通りに御座候、天の降せる此大惨害の意義如何は承知不致候へども、従来に優りて精神的に強大なる日本が生れ出づることなるべしと存候、猶ほ日米両国が同情と理解との羈絆により、閣下が多年多大の御努力を被遊居る両国の親密の度を更に増進することを可得と存候
赤十字社寄附金応募者の内訳を聞くに、排日の最も熾烈なる加州の応募総額は、ニユー・イングランド諸州の応募金額の四倍に相当し、又ハワイ島民も喜んで応募せることも面白き現象に候
此等の事実は意義あるものゝ如く、両国の親善も従来嘗て見ざる良好
 - 第40巻 p.250 -ページ画像 
のものと相成べくと希望罷在候
御家族様方の御無事を祝し、猶閣下を始め皆様に謹んで敬意を奉表候
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　敬具
　　○右書翰ニ対スル返翰ニ就イテハ、ジャッジ・イー・エッチ・ゲーリー宛大正十二年十二月三十日付栄一書翰参照。同文ナリ。