Bonin Islands  Source  Whalesite

      A translation will be found elsewhere in our columns to-day giving a short account of the relations which appear to exist between this Empire and a small group of islands known as the Bonin group, which lie about five hundred miles nearly due south of Yedo Bay. Various incidents have occurred during the past few years to attract attention to these islands, the condition of which is anomalous and unsatisfactory -- so much so, indeed, as to call for some action, both of the Japanese Government, which claims possession of the group, and of the Representatives of those Powers whose subjects or citizens have settled there. Our translation above referred to strongly discourages the idea of Japan assuming the sovereignty of the group, or going to any expense on this account, and every one would be pleased to think she should be spared this. But this course would necessarily involve a disclaimer of their possession, and leave it open to any other Power to assert a right over them, which rather might than might not be done sooner or later, and this, though not very important, perhaps, is rather undesirable for Japan. As things stand at present, if the Japanese undertake the management of the islands, the whole question of foreign jurisdiction comes in under peculiarly complicated conditions, for it is certain that the Treaty powers interested will not send a staff of officials there to look after a few graziers or run-away sailors. They also will hardly agree to give the Japanese jurisdiction over them. Yet it is far more easy to say that something ought to be done than to say exactly what that something should be. H. M. S. Curlew leaves tomorrow for the Islands, taking the British Consul as a passenger, and the Japanese are also sending a steamer down, but whether or not they have determined to resume their old and abandoned claim to the group is not known.

"Notes of the Week."
      The Japan Weekly Mail: a political, commercial, and literary journal.
Vol. VI, No. 47 (November 20, 1875). p.1029.

Bonin Islands  Source  Whalesite