It will be quite satisfactory if you open them gradually, as the circumstances may require; but the President assures you that this will not be the case if you make a treaty with England first.
From Townsend Harris
If you make a treaty first with the United States and settle the matter of the opium trade, England cannot change this, though she should desire to do so.
When the ambassadors of other foreign countries come to Japan to make treaties, they can be told that such and such a treaty has been made with the ambassador of the United States, and they will rest satisfied with this.
If I write in my name to the agents of England and France residing in Asia and inform them that Japan is ready to make a commercial treaty with their countries, the number of steamers will be reduced from fifty to two or three.
7 perspectives
6 perspectives
5 perspectives
2 perspectives
1 perspectives