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(presented
by Commodore Perry on July 14, 1853)
MILLARD
FILLMORE,
President
of the United States of America
to
his Imperial Majesty,
THE
EMPEROR OF JAPAN
Great
and Good Friend!
I
send you this public letter by Commodore Matthew C.
Perry, an officer of the highest rank in the navy
of the United States, and commander of the squadron
now visiting Your imperial majesty's dominions.
I
have directed Commodore Perry to assure your imperial
majesty that I entertain the kindest feelings toward
your majesty's person and government, and that I have
no other object in sending him to Japan but to propose
to your imperial majesty that the United States and
Japan should live in friendship and have commercial
intercourse with each other.
The
Constitution and laws of the United States forbid
all interference with the religious or political concerns
of other nations. I have particularly charged Commodore
Perry to abstain from every act which could possibly
disturb the tranquillity of your imperial majesty's
dominions.
The
United States of America reach from ocean to ocean,
and our Territory of Oregon and State of California
lie directly opposite to the dominions of your imperial
majesty. Our steamships can go from California to
Japan in eighteen days.
Our
great State of California produces about sixty millions
of dollars in gold every year, besides silver, quicksilver,
precious stones, and many other valuable articles.
Japan is also a rich and fertile country, and produces
many very valuable articles. Your imperial majesty's
subjects are skilled in many of the arts. I am desirous
that our two countries should trade with each other,
for the benefit both of Japan and the United States.
We
know that the ancient laws of your imperial majesty's
government do not allow of foreign trade, except with
the Chinese and the Dutch; but as the state of the
world changes and new governments are formed, it seems
to be wise, from time to time, to make new laws. There
was a time when the ancient laws of your imperial
majesty's government were first made.
About
the same time America, which is sometimes called the
New World, was first discovered and settled by the
Europeans. For a long time there were but a few people,
and they were poor. They have now become quite numerous;
their commerce is very extensive; and they think that
if your imperial majesty were so far to change the
ancient laws as to allow a free trade between the
two countries it would be extremely beneficial to
both.
If
your imperial majesty is not satisfied that it would
be safe altogether to abrogate the ancient laws which
forbid foreign trade, they might be suspended for
five or ten years, so as to try the experiment. If
it does not prove as beneficial as was hoped, the
ancient laws can be restored. The United States often
limit their treaties with foreign States to a few
years, and then renew them or not, as they please.
I
have directed Commodore Perry to mention another thing
to your imperial majesty. Many of our ships pass every
year from California to China; and great numbers of
our people pursue the whale fishery near the shores
of Japan. It sometimes happens, in stormy weather,
that one of our ships is wrecked on your imperial
majesty's shores. In all such cases we ask, and expect,
that our unfortunate people should be treated with
kindness, and that their property should be protected,
till we can send a vessel and bring them away. We
are very much in earnest in this.
Commodore
Perry is also directed by me to represent to your
imperial majesty that we understand there is a great
abundance of coal and provisions in the Empire of
Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean,
burn a great deal of coal, and it is not convenient
to bring it all the way from America. We wish that
our steamships and other vessels should be allowed
to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal,
provisions, and water. They will pay for them in money,
or anything else your imperial majesty's subjects
may prefer; and we request your imperial majesty to
appoint a convenient port, in the southern part of
the Empire, where our vessels may stop for this purpose.
We are very desirous of this.
These
are the only objects for which I have sent Commodore
Perry, with a powerful squadron, to pay a visit to
your imperial majesty's renowned city of Yedo: friendship,
commerce, a supply of coal and provisions, and protection
for our shipwrecked people.
We
have directed Commodore Perry to beg your imperial
majesty's acceptance of a few presents. They are of
no great value in themselves; but some of them may
serve as specimens of the articles manufactured in
the United States, and they are intended as tokens
of our sincere and respectful friendship.
May
the Almighty have your imperial majesty in His great
and holy keeping! In witness whereof, I have caused
the great seal of the United States to be hereunto
affixed, and have subscribed the same with my name,
at the city of Washington, in America, the seat of
my government, on the thirteenth day of the month
of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred
and fifty-two.
[Seal attached]
Your good friend,
MILLARD FILLMORE, President
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The
return of Your Excellency as Ambassador of the United
States to this Empire has been expected according
to the letter of his majesty the President, which
your excellency delivered last year to his majesty
the Emperor of this nation. It is quite impossible
to give satisfactory answers at once to all the proposals
of your government.
Although
a change is most positively forbidden by the laws
of our imperial ancestors, for us to continue attached
to ancient laws, seems to misunderstand the spirit
of the age. Nonetheless we are governed now
by imperative necessity. At the visit of your excellency
to this Empire last year, his majesty the former Emperor
was sick and is now dead. Subsequently his majesty
the present Emperor ascended the throne. The many
occupations in consequence thereof are not yet finished
and there is no time to settle other business thoroughly.
Moreover his majesty the new Emperor at his succession
to the throne promised to the princes and high officers
of the empire to observe the laws; it is therefore
evident that he cannot now bring about any alterations
in the ancient laws.
Last
autumn at the departure of the Dutch ship, the superintendent
of the Dutch trade in Japan was requested to inform
your government of this event, and we have been informed
in writing that he did so.
The
Russian ambassador arrived recently at Nagasaki to
communicate a wish of his government. He has since
left the said place, because no answer would be given
to whatever nation that might communicate similar
wishes. We recognize necessity, however, and shall
entirely comply with the proposals of your government
concerning coal, wood, water, provisions, and the
saving of ships and their crews in distress. After
being informed which harbor your excellency selects,
that harbor shall be prepared, which preparation it
is estimated will take about five years. Meanwhile
commencement can be made with the coal at Nagasaki,
by the first month of the next Japanese year (16th
of February 1855).
Having
no precedent with respect to coal, we request your
excellency to furnish us with an estimate, and upon
due consideration this will be complied with if not
in opposition to our laws. What do you mean by provisions
and how much coal will be required?
Finally,
anything ships may be in want of that can be furnished
from the production of this Empire shall be supplied;
the prices of merchandise and articles of barter to
be fixed by Kurokawa Kahei and Moriyama Einosuke.
After settling the points before mentioned, the treaty
can be concluded and signed at the next interview.
Seals attached by order of the
high Gentleman
(signed) Moriyama Einosuke
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United
States Flag Ship Powhatan
At
anchor off the Town of Yokohama
Edo
Bay, 10 March 1854
To
His Highness,
Hayashi,
Daigaku-no-kami
etc.
etc. etc.
Your
Highness,
In
reply to the communication of your highness, which
was brought to me yesterday by Kurokawa Kahei, and
the chief interpreter, Moriyama Einosuke, I hasten
to remark that it has given me the greatest satisfaction
to learn from its contents, that the imperial government
of Japan has at last awakened to a conviction of the
necessity of so altering its policy with respect to
foreign nations, as to consent to an interchange of
friendly intercourse with the United States.
Though
the propositions set forth in the communication of
your highness furnish strong evidence of the enlightened
spirit with which the imperial commissioners are disposed
to meet the suggestions which I have had the honor
to submit, they fall far short of my anticipations,
and I do not hesitate to say that they would not satisfy
the views of the President.
I
cheerfully accede to those of the propositions of
your highness which offer to guarantee kind treatment
to such vessels of the United States as may hereafter
visit the parts of Japan, or be wrecked upon its coasts
with protection, and suitable hospitality to the people
who may belong to them.
Also,
that provisions and other supplies shall be furnished
to them and payment received for the same.
Also,
that American steamers shall be supplied with reasonable
quantities of coal, and at fair and equitable prices.
These
are all very well so far as they go, and can be incorporated
in the treaty which I shall expect to make; but my
instructions require me to look for an intercourse
of a more enlarged and liberal character, and I feel
assured that the Imperial government, in consideration
of the spirit of the age, and with the full knowledge
of my strong desire to conduct my mission in peace
and friendship, will no longer hesitate to enter with
cordiality into a treaty that will be mutually honorable
and advantageous to both nations.
The
convenience of the immense and growing commerce of
the United States in these seas will require, certainly,
as many ports of resort in Japan as are specified
in the treaty with China, and these must be free from
any restrictions not recognized, by the usages of
free and independent nations.
In
a word, I again earnestly urge upon your highness
the policy of fixing upon some written compact that
will be binding as well upon the citizens of the United
States as the subjects of Japan.
It
would be needless in me again to express the sincerest
desire of my heart to bring these negotiations to
an amicable and satisfactory termination; nor will
I again allude to the importance of such an issue,
important as well to save time as to prevent the necessity
of sending from America more ships and men, and possibly
with instructions of more stringent import.
I
have the power and the wish to meet the Imperial commissioners
in all good faith, believing that there can be no
more favorable time than the present to settle all
the questions under consideration in such manner as
will bring about a good understanding between two
nations, whose geographical positions, lying in comparative
proximity, would seem to enjoin, as a measure of wise
foresight, a mutual interchange of those acts of kindness
and good will which will serve to cement the friendship
happily commenced, and to endure, I trust, for many
years.
With
the most profound respect
(signed) M. C. Perry
Commander-in-chief U.S. Naval
Forces
East India, China, and Japan
Seas
And Special Ambassador to Japan.
[Ref.:
U.S. Senate, 33rd Congress, 2nd. Sess. (1854-55):
Executive Documents, vol. 6, pp. 137-9]
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