REMARKS OF COMMODORE PERRY 



UPON THE EXPEDIENCY OF EXTENDING 



FURTHER ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN COMMERCE IN THE EAST. 



In the general increase and extension of the commerce of the world, and the necessity of 

 employing the constantly accumulating capital which the mines of California and Australia 

 are annually yielding, it is important that the government of the United States should turn 

 its attention to the expediency of opening new avenues of trade, hy the accomplishment of 

 treaties of amity and commercial intercourse with those people of the East, who are, wholly 

 or in part, independent of the control of the powers of Europe, and are looked upon as of suf- 

 ficient importance to be entitled to sovereign rights. 



Though England and the government of the Netherlands, as principals, and France, Spain, 

 and Portugal, in a more limited degree, have extended their sway over large portions of the 

 territories of the East, there are still left, in comparative independence, extensive areas of cul- 

 tivated and populous lands, which have so far escaped the grasping policy of those powers ; 

 and though these lands are ruled over by half-civilized despots, nature has given to them 

 advantages which, if properly directed, would render them available in contributing by their 

 products to the general resources of commerce. 



With the flourishing kingdoms of Japan, Lew Chew, and Siam, we have recently negotiated 

 treaties, from which important benefits will undoubtedly be obtained. Though up to this time 

 but little interest has been manifested by our government in availing itself of the means thus 

 placed at its disposal, the day will however arrive, and at no distant period, when political events, 

 and the unanimous, and urgent appeals of our commercial men, will make it obligatory on the 

 United States to look with greater solicitude to our eastern commerce, and to extend the 

 advantages of our national friendship and protection, as well to Japan and Lew Chew as to 

 other powers but little better known to western nations. 



I may refer to Siam, Cambodia, Cochin China, parts of Borneo and Sumatra, and many of 

 the islands of the eastern archipelago, and more especially to the island of Formosa. 



It may be interposed as an objection to my proposition, that either one or more of the Euro- 

 pean governments already mentioned may claim jurisdiction over these countries, and conse- 

 quently the native princes would be excluded from any right to enter into treaty relations with 

 us. But the right of sovereignty should, in these enlightened days, be admitted only upon 

 proof of the power of the sovereign claiming jurisdiction to enforce his assumed prerogative, the 

 same as with respect to the belligerent right of blockade, which should be recognized in national 

 law only when it can be sustained by competent force ; and I maintain that the government of 

 the United States cannot justly be debarred from entering into treaty stipulations with either 

 one or all of the native governments or communities of the East that are known to be de facto 

 independent of any other established power. 



