VIEWS OF COMMODORE PERRY ON THE MISSION. 85 



Commodore Perry to the Secretary of the Navy. 



United States Steam Frigate Mississippi, 



Madeira, December 14, 1852. 



Sir: Since leaving the United States I have had leisure to reflect more fully upon the 

 probable result of my visit to Japan, and though there is still some doubt in my mind as to the 

 chances of immediate success in bringing that strange government to any practicable negotia- 

 tion, yet I feel confident that in the end the great object in view will be efiected. 



As a preliminary step, and one of easy accomplishment, one or more ports of refuge and 

 supply to our whaling and other shijjs must at once be secured ; and should the Japanese 

 government object to the granting of such ports upon the main land, and if they cannot be 

 occupied without resort to force and bloodshed, then it will be desirable in the beginning, and 

 indeed, necessary, that the squadron should establish places of rendezvous at one or two of the 

 islands south of Japan, having a good harbor, and possessing facilities for obtaining water and 

 supplies, and seek by kindness and gentle treatment to conciliate the inhabitants so as to bring 

 about their friendly intercourse. 



The islands called the Lew Chew grouj:! are said to be dependencies of Japan, as conquered 

 by that power centuries ago, but their actual sovereignty is disputed by the government of 

 China. 



These islands come within the jurisdiction of the prince of Satsuma, the most powerful of the 

 princes of the Empire, and the same who caused the unarmed American ship Morrison, on a visit 

 of mercy, to be decoyed into one of his ports and then fired upon from the batteries hastily 

 erected. He exercises his rights more from the influence of the fear of the simple islanders than 

 from any power to coerce their obedience ; disarmed, as they long have been, from motives of 

 policy, they have no mean^, even if they had the inclination, to rebel against the grinding 

 oppression of their rulers. 



Now, it strikes me, that the occupation of the principal ports of those islands for the accom- 

 modation of our ships of war, and for the safe resort of merchant vessels of whatever nation, 

 would be a measure not only justified by the strictest rules of moral law, but what is also to be 

 considered, by the laws of stern necessity ; and the argument may be further strengthened by the 

 certain consequences of the amelioration of the condition of the natives, although the vices 

 attendant upon civilization may be entailed upon them. 



In my former commands uj)on the coast of Africa and in the Gulf of Mexico, where it fell to 

 my lot to subjugate many towns and communities, I found no difficulty in conciliating the good 

 will and confidence of the conquered people, by administering the unrestricted power I held 

 rather to their comfort and protection than to their annoyance ; and when the naval forces left, 

 they carried with them the gratitude and good wishes of their former enemies ; and so I believe 

 that the people of the islands spoken of, if treated with strict justice and gentle kindness, will 

 render confidence for confidence, and after a while the Japanese will learn to consider us their 

 friends. 



In establishing those ports of refuge it will be desirable to provide the means of supply to the 

 vessels that may resort to them, and hence the necessity of encouraging the natives in the 

 cultivation of fruits, vegetables, &c. ; and to carry out, in part, this object, garden seeds have 

 been provided ; but to pursue the purpose still further, I have thought that if a few of the more 

 simjile agricultural implements of our own country were sent to me for use, and for presents. 



