and authorities of that city had been trained to enforce the laws with
respect to foreigners, and declared that if the Americans were to have
another port assigned to them, five years would be required to make similar
preparations. The Commodore replied that the fact of Nagasaki having
been especially appropriated to foreigners was one of the grounds of his
objections to i t ; that its inhabitants and authorities, having been so long
accustomed to the servility of the Dutch, would doubtless exact more from
the Americans than they would be inclined to submit to, and serious consequences
might follow. Moreover, the Commodore declared that he desired
it to be well understood, that his countrymen visiting Japan must be free
from all those oppressive laws which have been hitherto imposed upon
strangers. In a word, he declared emphatically that he would not think
of accepting Nagasaki as one of the ports.
The Commodore then informed the commissioners that he should expect,
in the course of time, five ports to be opened to the American flag. He
would, however, he said, be content for the present with three: one on the
island of Nippon, say either Uraga or Kagosima; another in Yesso, suggesting
Matsmai, and a third in Lew Chew, that of Napha. In regard to the
remaining two he was willing to defer all discussion to some future time.
After many evasions, and their usual protestations of legal difficulties,
they at last answered that, as the Commodore positively refused to accept
Nagasaki, and as they themselves objected to Uraga, that Simoda accordingly
was formally proposed. In regard to Lew Chew, the commissioners
declared that, as it was a distant dependency, over which the Emperor of
Japan had but limited control, they could entertain no proposition. And
as for Matsmai, that also stood in similar relations to the Japanese government.
Notwithstanding all these objections, the Commodore still persisted in
his demands, as he had always to be on his guard against the deceitful
diplomacy of the people with whom he was negotiating. Finding that the
Commodore was resolute, and that all their cunning devices to bend him
from his purpose were of no avail, the commissioners proposed to consider
the matter, and retired to another apartment for private consultation.
After an absence of an hour they returned, and reported as the result
of their deliberations, that a longer time would be required before their
decision could be given in regard to the opening of Matsmai. They remarked,
in addition, that it was not in the power of the Emperor to grant
the use of this port without consulting the prince under whose hereditary
right it was governed, and that to do this would require a year, at the expiration
of which time they would be prepared to give a reply. The Commodore
then told them that he could not leave Japan without an answer of
some kind, and that if the prince to whom they referred was an independent
sovereign, he would go himself to Matsmai and negotiate with him.
This point was finally settled for the time, by the Japanese saying that
they would give a definite answer on Thursday, the twenty-third of March.
In regard to Simoda, it was agreed that the Commodore should dispatch
one or more vessels to that port, and the commissioners a Japanese officer
of rank to meet them, in order that the harbor might be examined, and its
fitness for the required purposes determined, it having been clearly understood
that if it did not answer the expectations of the Americans in all
respects, another place, somewhere in the southern part of Nippon, would
be insisted on. The Yandalia and Southampton were accordingly dispatched,
on the twentieth of March, to examine the harbor of Simoda.
The day after the conference on shore, Moryama Yenoske, the chief
interpreter, accompanied by two Japanese officials, came on board the
Powhatan and submitted a paper, in the Dutch language, containing a
report by the Japanese themselves of the propositions made by the Commodore,
and it proved that the commissioners were perfectly cognizant of his
views.* On the occasion of this visit Yenoske asked for the Japanese coins
* This Japanese report is curious as an evidence of the precision -with which the commissioners
conducted the negotiations, and of the exactitude with which their reporter, who
was constantly present, noted the proceedings of the conference:
Japanese statement o f points agreed upon in the interview o f Commodore Perry zoith the Japanese
commissioners, March 17, 1854.
1st. The citizens of the United States will not submit to degradations like those imposed
upon the Dutch and Chinese, in their confinement at Nagasaki; that place is not convenient
for ships to resort to, and does not answer the purpose.
2J. Lew Chew is a v e r y distant country, and a definite answer cannot be given.
3d. Matsmai is a very distant place, and belongs to a prince. This point cannot be
settled now; some time will be required for negotiation, until the first month of our next
y e ar; because the concurrence of the central government and of the prince of that country
are both necessary to effect a result; a negotiation of the admiral with that prince, therefore,
would be to no purpose.
It was stated that an answer had better be given at once. There was time enough to
have that harbor opened by the above mentioned time ; that it was not probable that in
the first year that harbor would be resorted to by many ships, because some time would
be required to communicate this decision to the government, and to have it generally
known.
In consideration thereof, it was agreed that a final answer should be given on the 23d
of March, (the 26th of the Japanese month.)
I t being mentioned that, besides Lew, Chew and Matsmai, more harbors in Nippon
would be required, it was suggested that the harbor of Simoda could be opened for the
ships of the United States, and agreed that two ships of the squadron would sail on the
19th of March to make a survey of that h arbor; and, further, that some Japanese officers,
to go by land, would arrive at that place on the 22d instant, and that the captains of those
ships would await the arrival of those officers before proceeding to survey, permit any one
to land, &c.
That shipwrecked men should meet with kind treatment, and be as free as in other
countries.
Agreement made upon due consideration.