In 1852, President Millard Fillmore approved an expedition led by Commodore Matthew C. Perry to Japan. Among the objectives that Washington gave Perry was to deliver a letter by the President to the Emperor of Japan. The letter contained the requests of the United States of America to the Empire. Explore more about the contents of the letter bellow.
MILLARD
FILLMORE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY,
THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN
GREAT
AND GOOD FRIEND: I send you this public letter by Commodore Matthew C. Perry,
an officer of the highest rank in the navy of the United States, and commander
of the squadron now visiting your imperial majesty’s dominions.
I
have directed Commodore Perry to assure your imperial majesty that I entertain
the kindest feelings toward your majesty’s person and government, and that I
have no other object in sending him to Japan but to propose to your imperial
majesty that the United States and Japan should live in friendship and have
commercial intercourse with each other.
The
Constitution and laws of the United States forbid all interference with the
religious or political concerns of other nations. I have particularly charged
Commodore Perry to abstain from every act which could possibly disturb the
tranquility of your imperial majesty’s dominions.
The
United States of America reach from ocean to ocean, and our Territory of Oregon
and State of California lie directly opposite to the dominions of your imperial
majesty. Our steamships can go from California to Japan in eighteen days.
Our
great State of California produces about sixty millions of dollars in gold
every year, besides silver, quicksilver, precious stones, and many other
valuable articles. Japan in also a rich and fertile country, and produces many
very valuable articles. Your imperial majesty’s subjects are skilled in many of
the arts. I am desirous that our two countries should trade with each other,
for the benefit both of Japan and the United States. We know that the ancient
laws of your imperial majesty’s government do not allow of foreign trade,
except with the Chinese and the Dutch; but as the state of the world changes
and new governments are formed, it seems to be wise, from time to time, to make
new laws. There was a time when the ancient laws of your imperial majesty’s
government were first made.
About
the same time America, which is sometimes called the New World, was first
discovered and settled by the Europeans. For a long time there were but a few
people, and they were poor. They have now become quite numerous; their commerce
is very extensive; and they think that if your imperial majesty were so far to
change the ancient laws as to allow a free trade between the two countries it
would be extremely beneficial to both.
If
your imperial majesty is not satisfied that it would be safe altogether to
abrogate the ancient laws which forbid foreign trade, they might be suspended
for five or ten years, so as to try the experiment. If it does not prove as
beneficial as was hoped, the ancient laws can be restored. The United States
often limit their treaties with foreign States to a few years, and then renew
them or not, as they please.
I
have directed Commodore Perry to mention another thing to your imperial
majesty. Many of our ships pass every year from California to China; and great
numbers of our people pursue the whale fishery near the shores of Japan. It
sometimes happens, in stormy weather, that one of our ships is wrecked on your
imperial majesty’s shores. In all such cases we ask, and expect, that our
unfortunate people should be treated with kindness, and that their property
should be protected, till we can send a vessel and bring them away. We are very
much in earnest in this.
Commodore
Perry is also directed by me to represent to your imperial majesty that we
understand there is a great abundance of coal and provisions in the Empire of
Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean, burn a great deal of coal,
and it is not convenient to bring it all the way from America. We wish that our
steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop in Japan and supply
themselves with coal, provisions, and water. They will pay for them in money,
or anything else your imperial majesty’s subjects may prefer; and we request
your imperial majesty to appoint a convenient port, in the southern part of the
Empire, where our vessels may stop for this purpose. We are very desirous of
this.
There
are the only objects for which I have sent Commodore Perry, with a powerful squadron,
to pay a visit to your imperial majesty’s renowned city of Yedo: friendship,
commerce, a supply of coal and provisions, and protection for our shipwrecked
people.
May
the Almighty have your imperial majesty in His great and holy keeping!
In
witness whereof, I have caused the great seal of the United States to be
hereunto affixed, and have subscribed the same with my name, at the city of
Washington, in America, the seat of my government, on the thirteenth day of the
month of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
[Seal
attached]
Your
good friend,
MILLARD
FILLMORE
By the
President:
EDWARD
EVERETT
Secretary of State
Source:
Hawks, Francis. Narrative of the Expedition of An American Squadron to The China Seas and Japan, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854, under the Command of Commodore M.C. Perry, United States Navy by Order of the Government of the United States, Volume I. Washington D.C.: A.O.P. Nicholson, Printer, 1856.
Explore also:
Perry Expedition and the Opening of Japan (Part 4): Perry Sailed East
Explore also:
Perry Expedition and the Opening of Japan (Part 4): Perry Sailed East
No comments:
Post a Comment