INTRODUCTION. 69 



But this is not all. We are constrained, from public documents of the Dutch themselves, to 

 believe that they never cordially furthered our efforts to effect a treaty which should open Japan. 

 In a letter from the Dutch governor general of the Indies, written from Java on the 22d 

 September, 1852, addressed to Commodore Perry, (then on liis way to Japan,) the commodore 

 is informed that a dispatch for the Dezima chief is enclosed, which the commodore may 

 transmit to him, in case he wishes his co-operation. Now, at this very time, the governor general 

 well knew that the Dezima chief had the draft of a treaty, and instructions to have it ratified 

 if possible ; and every effort was being made to have it thus ratified before Commodore Perry 

 could arrive. Had it been thus ratified, we have seen above what sort of co-operation the Dezima 

 chief would have rendered ; it would have been to allow Japan to negotiate just such a treaty 

 as Holland had seen fit to make for her and for us. But further still — the last clause of the 

 governor general's letter to Commodore Perry is suggestive of a fact pregnant with evidence as 

 to the cordiality with which Holland seconded our efforts. "I beg to remark, in view of the 

 object at present contemplated by both our governments, that in case the Netherlands chief of 

 the factory at Dezima should have succeeded in opening negotiations witli the government of 

 Japan, it is not unlikely that any proof of co-operation between America and Holland would 

 prejudice these negotiations, as you are aware that the American expedition to Japan has not always 

 been represented to he of a icholly friendly and peaceful character." Of course, these latter words, 

 to have any meaning, must imply that the Japanese had doubts of the friendly nature of our 

 visit. Noio, who told the Japanese that it was unfriendly? The Dutch were the only Europeans 

 with whom they had any intercourse, or from whom they could hear anything about it. And 

 from the Dutch they did hear it ; for, in anticipation of the American movements, instructions 

 were sent by the Netherlands to their governor general in Batavia to write to Jajjan and invite 

 negotiation about the means that should be adopted ' ' to preserve Japan from the dangers that 

 threatened her." The Dutch, therefore, told the Japanese to look for danger from our visit. 



Commodore Perry never invoked the aid of the Dutch, from the beginning to the end of his 

 mission, but purposely avoided them ; and the treaty which he made is essentially different 

 from that which the Dutch had provided. The draft from the Hague made Nagasaki the only 

 port open to foreign ships for obtaining supplies, repairing vessels, and recruiting the sick ; and 

 provided that foreigners might " even be admitted to trade," after they had made a treaty on 

 the Dutch basis. 



The two ports of Simoda and Hakodadi, with a considerable space around each, are, by the 

 American treaty, thrown open for trade ; and in case of distress, or when driven by stress of 

 weather, all the ports in Japan are open to ships of the United States ; and as, when Holland 

 shall succeed in making a commercial treaty with Japan, we cannot but hope and believe she 

 will be admitted to like favors with ourselves, we have been inclined to think that the Dutch 

 are far more indebted to us for releasing them from their imprisonment of two centuries and a 

 half at Dezima, than we are for any aid they have rendered us, directly or indirectly, in 

 negotiating our treaty with Japan. That Holland should seek to advance her own interest is 

 both natural and proper ; when other nations succeed in promoting theirs, it is scarcely graceful 

 or dignified to deny to them the modicum of merit which may attach to their success. 



It only remains to say a word about the singular statements of Dr. Von Siebold. This individual 

 was the physician employed by the Dutch at Dezima, and has published, more largely than all 

 his predecessors combined, the result of his observations during his residence. Of the value of 

 his publications we have already spoken. During liis continuance in the Empire, however, a 



