渋沢栄一書翰 ジェームス・ディー・ローマン宛 （1911.12.18） （ジェームス・ディー・ローマン氏所蔵）
(COPY)
Baron E. Shibusawa
Tokyo
December 18th, 1911.
J. D. Lowman, Esq.,
Seattle.
Dear Sir,
It is my strong conviction that only through the profound sympathy of you and your countrymen in general, we, the Japanese Commercial Commissioners of 1909 were able to finish that memorable tour of three months through your various cities, executing very useful observations, fulfilling the important missions, and coming safely back to Japan, all with great pleasure and to full satisfaction. While on our way home, we formed the desire to keep the permanent memory of this pleasant trip, passed a resolution to the effect that we should celebrate the event by holding a meeting once every year at such a place as where its Chamber of Commerce was represented by a member of the party. In pursuance of this resolution, the first meeting was held at Nagoya last year; and this year the second one at the Imperial Hotel at Tokyo on the 16th inst., to which we were glad to invite the members of the diplomatic corps home and foreign, who had been more or less connected with our tour. It was really a grand dinner. But the greatest regret was that the American Ambassador, Councillor, Secretaries, and Consul-General were not present, as they had already accepted invitations from the Asiatic Society at Yokohama. However, Ambassador Bryan sent me, beside a formal note, a very cordial letter to emphasize his regret for his inability to join us in "celebrating the event that he knows has contributed so much to the better understanding between the American and Japanese peoples and to the commercial development which is so important to both natios." I read his letter at the banquet and finished it amidst loud applause.
The following day, the 17th, was the day on which all the party landed in Japan safely; and to commemorate it, I invited all to my residence at Asukayama. To make deep impressions upon their minds I caused one of the rooms to be decorated just like the smoking room on board the ship. We gathered together in the morning, took tiffin together, and spent a very nice time through the afternoon, by recalling and narrating to one another the various pleasant incidents connected with our travel, and in particular, everybody joining in the expressions of sincere gratitude for the noble spirit and warm sympathy with which you had done so much for us throughout the memorable tour.
I hope that we shall never fail to have a meeting every year according to the resolution whereby we shall refresh our memory of the profound sympathy of you and your people, and at the same time, add to a greater development of trade and further promotion of goodwill between both countries.
While I take great pleasure to report you the above, I have no doubt you will be much interested to receive this pleasant news.
I remain,
Yours sincerely,
(Signed)
Baron E. Shibusawa.（『渋沢栄一伝記資料』第32巻p.469-470掲載）
