Willis was a capable interpreter of the Legation. He was always punctual and diligent in his duties and working hard during office hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), always ready with kindly advice and help [Remi1933: pp.46-48].
One of the Legation several events of National importance took place while Willis held his post as interpreter, was the promulgation of the New Japan Constitution on 11th February 1889. A state Banquet was held in the evening, which he attended. The following letter written by the US minister Swift mentions that.
Mr. Swift to Mr. Blaine (John F. Swift)
No.80. Legation of the United States, Tokio, January 3, 1890 (Received January 29.)
SIR : I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a communication from His Excellency Viscount Aoki [*1], His Imperial Japanese Majesty's minister for foreign affairs, addressed to me, which, as you will observe, requests me to transmit to each of certain American citizens therein named a medal and brevet commemorative of the promulgation, in February, 1889, of the imperial Japanese constitution, and of the fact that the said American citizens were present on that occasion and witnessed the ceremony.
The American citizens to whom I am requested to forward these medals and brevets are my predecessor in this mission, ex-Governor R. B. Hubbard; Mr. F. S. Mansfield, late secretary of legation, both now living in Texas; Mr. Edwin Dun, present secretary of this legation; and Dr. Whitney, interpreter.
I may also mention that they were present at the ceremony as representatives of the United States.
Inasmuch as both Governor Hubbard and Mr. Mansfield have ceased to hold any diplomatic or other official relation with the Japanese Government, there appears no reason, so far as I can see, why the acceptance or refusal of the articles thus offered them may not be left to their own discretion, at least so far as I am concerned. For that reason, and in view of their recent position at this legation, I felt called upon, as a matter of courtesy due to my predecessor and late secretary, to forward the medals, etc., direct to them without comment or suggestion, which I did. I trust this action may not meet with your disapproval.
Whether the medal referred to is such a present or other gift as falls within the inhibition of section 1751 of the Revised Statutes is a question that I do not feel called upon to decide, but refer to yourself for instructions in future cases, for in the case of Governor Hubbard and Mr. Mansfield I have already acted, at least as to sending the medals.
It is true, however, that in case they accept or reject I shall hereafter be called upon officially to notify the Government of His Imperial Japanese Majesty of the fact. If it be such inhibited gift, it is quite possible that I am wrong in forwarding it to any citizen who by law can not accept it.
I was recently requested by His Imperial Majesty's Government to forward to a gentleman in the United States consular service in Japan a medal recognizing his action in jumping into the sea and, at some risk to his own life, rescuing a drowning Japanese subject. I forwarded the article to the gentleman without offering any opinion as to his right to accept it, but leaving that question to himself. I did so, because I thought the medal issued under such circumstances hardly fell within the restriction of the statute; Nor, except upon a very strict construction of the statute, perhaps, does it in the medal commemorative of the new constitution which I have forwarded to Governor Hubbard and Mr. Mansfield.
But it is exceedingly probable that the question is not a new one to the Department, and that it may have been long since settled one way or the other.
Whether the United States minister here can properly in any case be the medium of communication and transmission of any kind of testimonial between the Government of Japan and citizens of the United States is a question in my mind not entirely free from doubt, and if there be a settled rule, I should be glad to know and will cheerfully follow it.
Another question I wish specially to be instructed upon. You will observe that the other citizens to whom these medals have been issued are Mr. Dun and Dr. Whitney. These articles are now in this legation. Mr. Dun, being actually secretary of this legation, it follows that the objection to his accepting, if any there be, grows out of the question as to whether this commemorative medal is such a present, emolument, favor, etc., as is prohibited United States diplomatic officers by the Constitution and laws of the country and especially section 1751 of the Revised Statutes. If so, it would seem as a logical result that I have no right to offer it to them, but should return it to the foreign office with a statement of the reasons. The same may be, and probably is, the case as to Dr. Whitney's right to accept the medal issued to him. It is possible Dr. Whitney, who is merely interpreter to this legation, and not technically a secretary, may not stand in precisely the same position in the premises with Mr. Dun, although the reason for the rule would certainly seem to apply as strongly in his case as in that of any other diplomatic employé. Yet I separate them and ask for instructions in each case, and also in Governor Hubbard's.
I have, etc.
JOHN F. SWIFT.
[The Executive Documents of the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the Fifty-First Congress. 1890-'91.Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891, pp.575-576.]
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hj1gik;view=1up;seq=683
In those days all foreign travelers in the interior had to have passports and the making out of these was one part of his work. Therefore, missionaries from the USA needed his help, and Willis was ready to assist them in carrying the gospel over Japan. For that reason, he compiled the A Concise Dictionary of the Principal Roads, Chief Towns and Villages of Japan, and Index of Chinese Characters in Hepburn's Dictionary arranged according to their radicals, which was two of indispensable books for mission works at the time.(image: https://archive.org/details/indexofchinesech00whitrich)
Rev. Edwin Munsell Bliss commented about connections between missionaries and official position:
There is another connection with the local government, however, which often works for good. From their superior education and ability missionaries are often appointed to some official position. Dr. Verbeck [*2] was for some time a state official of Japan. ... Others have served for a time as diplomatic agent of the home government, like S. Wells Williams. Dr. Whitney, of Tokyo, as Secretary of the American Legation, is in a position to use his official as well as medical services for the benefit of Christianity. Such positions often prepare the way for the gospel, and commend it to strangers.
[ The Encyclopaedia of Missions, New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1891, p.277.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101068101037;view=1up;seq=309 ]
After twelve years of service，Willis resigned his post in 1895.
The reluctance of the Department of State to accept his resignation is shown in the following letter.
COPY OF LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE，WASHINGTON.
Aug, 28, 1895.
Dr. Willis Norton Whitney,
Intrepreter [sic] of Legation, Tokio,
now at London, England.
Sir,
I have today informed Mr. Dunn that your resignation is accepted, and in saying the same to you directly I take occasion to express the sincere regret which, this Department feels that personal considerations prevent your longer continuance in an office which you have filled with entire acceptability. Knowing how important it is to the interest of our representative service in the eastern countries that the Legation's interpreter should not only be versed in the language of the people, but bring to the performance of his duties a high degree of intelligence and earnest attention to the duties of his office and knowing how well you have filled these conditions during the twelve years that you have been associated with the public service，it is due alike to you and to the Department to place on record the deep regret here felt that you are about to retire from your honourable and confidential post.
I am Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) Alney A. Adee.[*3]
Acting Secretary.
[Remi1933: pp.45-46]
[ Notes by the editor ]
*1 青木周蔵 AOKI Shuzo (1844-1914), diplomat and Foreign Minister. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoki_Sh%C5%ABz%C5%8D
*2 Guido Herman Fridolin Verbeck フルベッキ, ヴァーベック (1830-1898), Dutch political advisor, educator and missionary of the Dutch Reformed Church. Died in Tokyo and was buried near Willis' mother. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_Verbeck
*3 Alvey Augustus Adee (1842-1924), Second Assistant Secretary of State 1886-1924. [ Office of the Historian ]
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Thanks for the those prepared the original data on the net.
Last updated 04 Jan. 2015
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