DISPOSITION OP THE JAPANESE IN CONFERENCE. S83 



disposed to adopt some of its most important features wlieii suggested to them by a knowledge 

 of what other orientals had done. 



But of the difficulties encountered, even after the Japanese had consented to negotiate, the 

 best account we think may be given from the conferences and discussions between the respective 

 negotiators, of all which most accurate reports were kept on both sides, in the form of dialogue. 

 At the first meeting of the Commodore with the Imperial commissioners, on the 8th of March, 

 he acted on the plan he had proposed to himself with respect to the treaty with China, and thus 

 addressed them : 



''Com. Perry. I think it would be better for the two nations that a treaty similar to the one 

 between my country and the Chinese should be made between us. I have prepared the draft of 

 one almost identical with our treaty with China. I have been sent here by my government to 

 make a treaty with yours ; if I do not succeed noio, my government will probably send more 

 ships here ; but I hope we will soon settle matters amicably." 



''Japanese. We wish for time to have the document translated into the Japanese language." 



This was but one among a hundred proofs of their extreme suspicion and caution ; for there 

 was not one of the imperial commissioners, probably, who could not have read, without the 

 least difficulty, the document as furnished by the Commodore ; and certain it is tliat their 

 interpreters could have read it off into Japanese at once. 



The Commodore, whose wish it was to do as far as possible everything that might conciliate, 

 of course, made no objection to a request so seemingly reasonable, though he knew it to be 

 needless, and was content to wait patiently for their reply. In one week that reply came in 

 writing, and was very explicit : " As to opening a trade, such as is now carried on by China 

 with your country, we certainly cannot yet bring it about. The feelings and manners of our 

 people are very unlike those of outer nations, and it will be exceedingly difficult, even if you 

 wish it, to immediately change the old regulations for those of other countries. Moreover, the 

 Chinese have long had intercourse with western nations, while we have had dealings at Nagasaki 

 with only the people of Holland and China." 



This answer was not entirely imexpected, and put an end to all prospect of negotiating 

 a "commercial treaty," in the European sense of that phrase. It only remained, therefore, to 

 secure, for the present, admission into the Kingdom, and so much of trade as Japanese jealousy 

 could be brought to concede. At length, after much and oft repeated discussion, the point was 

 yielded that certain ports might be opened to our vessels; and then, in the interview of March 

 25th, came \v^ the subject of consuls. 



"Japanese. About the appointment of consuls or agents, the commissioners desire a delay of 

 four or five years to see how the intercourse works. The governor of the town and the official 

 interpreter will be able to carry on all the business of supplying provisions, coal, and needed 

 articles, with the captain, without the intervention of a consul." 



" Com. Perry. The duties of a consul are to report all difficulties between American citizens 

 and Japanese to his government in an authentic manner, assist the Japanese in carrying out 

 their laws and the provisions of the treaty, and recovering debts made by the Americans ; and 

 also communicating to the government at Washington whatever the Japanese wish, as no letters 

 can be received after this through the Dutch ; and if no consuls are received, then a ship of war 

 must remain in Japan constantly, and her captain do the duties of a consul." 



"Japanese. If we had not felt great confidence in you, we should not have consented to open 



