FINAL CONSUMMATION ON WASHINGTON'S BIRTH DAY. 



513 



As to the exchange of ratifications^ the Japanese, at first, interposed two objections ; these, 

 however, did not arise from unwillingness to abide by their engagements, but were rather 

 technical, and founded upon their scrupulous interpretation of the terms of a written contract, 

 and upon their profound respect for ceremonials. The objections were, first, that their copy of 

 the treaty said it was to be ratified after eighteen months ; ours said ivithin eighteen months ; 

 but as the Dutch and Chinese translations agreed with our English copy, and as that had been 

 taken as the original, from which all the translations, including their Japanese version, had 

 been made, they became convinced that the discrepancy arose from the ignorance of their 

 translator, and having had explained to them what was meant by our English word " within," 

 as here used, they very gracefully withdrew all objection on this score. The other objection was 

 to the Emperor's affixing his sign manual to the Japanese copy for our government. They said 

 the Emperor never signed any document, but the supreme council only. Commander Adams 

 represented to them that the President and Secretary of State had signed the copy he had 

 brought for them, and beside, the Emperor was the party named in the instrument as having 

 made the treaty, and therefore he wished his signature. Finally, it was concluded that both 

 the Emperor and supreme council should sign it, and it was accordingly done. On the 21st of 

 February the exchanges were formally made, and as soon as it was done, the Powhatan 

 immediately showed the Japanese flag at the fore, and fired a salute of seventeen guns. 



The commissioners also gave Commander Adams a ratified copy of the "additional regula- 

 tions" made between the Commodore and the Japanese commissioners, which they seemed to 

 consider part of the treaty, with a request that he would deliver it to the President, and ask 

 him to send out, by some American ship, the American ratification as soon as it was completed. 

 On the day after the ratification, February 22, the Powhatan left Simoda, and our new and, as 

 we trust, enduring friendly relations with Japan are thus associated, in date at least, with the 

 name of Washington. 



Graves of American Dead in Japan, 



05 J 



