SIGNING OF THE TREATY. 377 



expiration often months, but that wood and water, and whatever else the place possessed would 

 be supplied immediately ; and to this note the Commodore promised to reply, and express his 

 satisfaction with such an arrangement. 



The question now came up with respect to the extent of privileges to be granted to Americans 

 who might visit Simoda, in the discussion of whicli it was perfectly plain that the Japanese 

 meant to be distinctly understood as prohibiting, absolutely, at least, for the present, the 

 permanent residence of Americans, with their families, in Japan. The distance, also, to which 

 Americans might extend their excursions into the country around the ports of Simoda and 

 Hakodadi was settled ; and it is observable, that, at the special request of the Japanese, the 

 Commodore named the distance, they assenting, at once, to that which he mentioned. 



The proposition to have consular agents residing in Japan was one which evidently gave great 

 anxiety to the commissioners, and the same grounds were taken and answered as have already 

 been related in the narrative of the Commodore's conversation with the interpreters on a previous 

 page of this chapter. The Commodore was tirm in saying there must be such agents for the 

 sake of the Japanese themselves as well as for that of our own countrymen, and it was finally 

 conceded that there should be one, to live at Simoda, and that he should not be appointed until 

 a year or eighteen months from the date of the treaty. 



Two more articles, including the new points which had been discussed were now added to the 

 transcrijit of the proposed treaty, and the Japanese having promised to bring on board the 

 Powhatan next day a copy, in Dutch^ of their understanding of the agreement as far as 

 concurred- in, the Commodore took his departure. 



During the next two days several notes passed between the Commodore and the Japanese 

 commissioners, in the course of which various questions that had been already considered were 

 more definitively settled ; and the American interpreters were occupied, in cooperation with the 

 Japanese, in drawing iip the treaty in the Ciiinese, Dutch, and Japanese languages. On the 

 twenty-ninth, the ships Vandalia and Southampton arrived from Simoda with a confirmation of 

 what Commander Pope had already stated in his dispatch which had been transmitted by the 

 Japanese authorities, over land, to the Commodore, namely, that the harbor and town of Simoda 

 had been found, on examination, suitable in every respect for the purposes of the Americans. 

 All was now in readiness for the final signing of the treaty. 



Accordingly, on Friday, the 31st of March, 1854, the Commodore proceeded to the treaty 

 house with his usual attendants, and immediately on his arrival signed three several dratT;s of 

 the treaty written in the English language, and delivered them to the commissioners, together 

 with three copies of the same in the Dutch and Chinese languages, certified by the interpreters, 

 Messrs. Williams and Portman, for. the United States. At the same time, the Japanese 

 commissioners, in behalf of their government, handed to the Commodore three drafts of the 

 treaty written respectively in the Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch languages, and signed by the 

 four of their body especially delegated by the Emperor for that purpose. The following is the 

 treaty as agreed upon. 



The United States of America and the Empire of Japan, desiring to establish firm, lasting, 

 and sincere friendship between the two nations, have resolved to fix, in a manner clear and 

 positive, by means of a treaty or general convention of peace and amity, the rules which shall 

 48.1 



