RATIFICATION OFT HE TREATY OF KANAGAWA. 203 



brought a Dutch translation of the treaty, and being told I had not, he said it would then he 

 impossible to proceed, as they did not understand English. To this I replied that we were in 

 isimilar circumstances, as none of us understood Japanese ; that I had brought a copy of the 

 treaty in English, signed and sealed by the President of the United States, and all I required in 

 return was a copy in Japanese, signed and sealed by the Emperor. I added that they had 

 already translations of the treaty both in Dutch and Chinese, which had been carefully compared, 

 both by their own interpreters and ours, when the treaty was made at Kanagawa, and moreover, 

 that their interpreter, Moryama Yenoske, who assisted at making and translating the treaty, 

 was now at Simoda, and understood English sufficiently to compare the ratified copy with the 

 original, and to see that they were word for word the same. I requested him to send to Yedo 

 for a Dutch translation. He said he had done so already. Our conversation was carried on in 

 this manner . 



Captain A. How long will it be before it arrives, and you are ready to finish this business ? 



G over not . I cannot give a decided answer to this. 



Captain A. I wish to have a definite answer. I consider the ship in danger here, from the 

 insecurity of the harbor and the frequent earthquakes. Captain McCluney is also very uneasy, 

 and it is important I should know as soon as possible whether the Japanese government is 

 ■ willing to act in accordance with the 12th article of the treaty or not. If I am to be kept 

 waiting long, I must request Captain McCluney to take the ship high up in Yedo bay, where 

 she will be safe, and where the communication with Yedo can be so much shorter. 



Governor. They are willing to do everything according to the treaty. But one thing must 

 be mentioned. It is impossible the Emperor's name should be to it. He never signs anything; 

 it is contrary to the custom of Japan. 



Captain A. It must be signed by the Emperor, " the august sovereign," or the person who 

 holds the supreme power in Japan, by whatever name he is called. 



Governor then says repeatedly that only the commissioners who would be appointed to 

 exchange ratifications and the chief of the supreme council could sign it. 



Captain A. I cannot consent to this, nor make any exchange under such circumstances. The 

 copy I bring is signed by the President of the United States, and I will not accept in exchange 

 for it anything less than the signature of the Emperor himself. 



Governor here goes into a long explanation to show that the sovereign power is really in the 

 hands of the supreme council, and that the Emperor has nothing to do with affairs of this kind. 



Gaptain A. That may be so ; but as the Emperor's name only is used in the treaty, I can 

 recognize no other authority. 



Governor. Have you seen the supplementary articles made to the treaty by Commodore Perry 

 at Simoda ? 

 -j Captain A. I have heard of them, but never seen them. 



Governor. It is agreed by them that the commissioners only shall sign the ratifications. 



Captain A. I would like to see these articles, but they could not govern me in this case. I 

 wish to know distinctly whether the Japanese government is willing to comply with the stipu- 

 lations of the 12th article of the treaty or not ; and if not, that the chief of the supreme council 

 will please state the reasons in writing, in order that I may lay them before my own govern- 

 ment. Among western nations such a denial would be considered a great affront. 



Governor, All will be done according to the treaty. Commissioners will be sent here to meet 



