New Britain herald., 1923-09-28
ORIGINAL EMBASSY
BUILDING IS LOST
First U. S. Structure In Japan
Destroyed In Earthquake

New York, Sept ss,-fhe original
embassy building OF the United states
government In which TOWNSEND Har-
RS, hrst American minister 10 Japan,
resided during the period when the
empire was being opened TO western
civilization, was among the buildings
destroyed by the japanese earth
quake. Adviees received at the Epls-
eopal church headquarters here say
that when the tidal wave In the shape
of a wall Of water nifty feet high
swept over the Tsukiji section of
Tokyo and wiped out st, Lnke's Inter-
national hospital, and half a dozen
other Episcopal church institutions, II
carried away the ancient embassy
building which had been in use for
various purposes for a lmost seven
centuries.
Originally the Shin shlu Buddhist
Temple OF Zempukuji tshrine OF vir-
tue and Happinessl. which had been
founded by the famous philosopher
Ieho. In the year 1872 A. D., the
structure was almost constantly in use
as a shrine until July Z. 1859, when
Townsend Harris accompanied by a
company OF American sailors from
the United States ship Mississippi.
raised the Stars and Stripes over the
Roof OF the edifce and established
there the first American embassy In.
Japan. Harris In the preceding jan
uary had been appointed minister 10
Japan by President Buchanan, after
two years Of gruelling work resulting
ls.a L.. aa2atlatin9 tha Arst
mercial treaty between japan and the
United States. This treaty opened up
half dozen Japanese ports TO the
commerce OF the world and marked
the beginning OF Japan's membership
In the sisterhood of nations. The
treaty was signeT in the building
which has been destroyed by the
earthquake. It followed by six years
the famous visit of Commodore Jerry
to Japanese waters, and the appoint
ment In 1857 Of Townsend Harris as
consul general to the empire.
From that time onward until extra
territorial rights were abolished in
Japan, the American legation was To-
entire Tsukiji section. later to become
one of the most populous wards in
Japan. was given over to the uses OF
the foreign population Of Tot~- then
known as Yedo. In 1860, .i-Chris-
tan riots swept over Tokyo, and the
Japanese government requested ALI
foreigners to move to Yokohama,
where their safety could be better as
sured. Minister Harris declined to
a bandon his post,
my duty is here" he said, looking
after the interests of my govern
ment."
He remained at the legation
throughout the storm, notwithstand-
Ing a direct attack on the building,
ard the assassination of Henry Heus-
ken, his secretary and Interpreter, for
whose death he later forced the Jap
anese government to pay an indem-
nifty.
/. From 1890 70 1905 the old legation
building was known to visitors in
Tokyo as the Metropole Hotel. Then
t was taken over by a wealthy Jap
,nese. who added two-thirds of the /.
ldjc!ning city block to the original
ground which he turned into a park.
n 1917, during a financial crisis in
Tokyo. this man went bankrupt and
committed suicide; whereupon the
Bank of Japan took over
he property and, through the cooper
.tion of Viscount Shivusawa. presi-
lent of the bank, became possessed Of
he bank, became possessed of the
ntire block. Then once more, fol-
owing these vicissitudes, the ancient
buddhist Temple was remodeled into
training school for nurses, pending
he erection of the new st. Luke's
hitch was under way at the time OF
he disaster. BY this time practically
II that was left of the original struc-
IRE were several decorative corner
tones bearing the Coat-of-Arns of
he United States, which were being
reserved for use as the base for a
liant flag pole which was to have
cen erected on the ALVIN of the new
t. Luke's overlooking Tokyo Bay