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. (Townsend Harris)
By means of steam one can go from California to Japan in eighteen days. (Townsend Harris)
The President regards the Japanese as a brave people; but courage, though useful in time of war, is subordinate to knowledge of arts; hence, courage without such knowledge is not to be highly esteemed. (Townsend Harris)
The United States have no possessions in the east and do not desire to have any, as other countries do. (Townsend Harris)
In case of war, a treaty would have to be made at the end of the war. (Townsend Harris)
In time of war steamships and improved arms are the most important things. (Townsend Harris)
As the treaty made with the United States was the first treaty entered into by your country with other countries, therefore the President regards Japan with peculiar friendliness. (Townsend Harris)
Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the state of affairs in China also. (Townsend Harris)
The United States was also provoked by the Chinese but, not being anxious for war, the government refused to unite with England and France. (Townsend Harris)
The nations of the West hope that by means of steam communication all the world will become as one family. (Townsend Harris)
The expense of a war could be paid in time; but the expense of opium, when once the habit is formed, will only increase with time. (Townsend Harris)
It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also. (Townsend Harris)
If a man use opium once he cannot stop it, and it becomes a life-long habit to use opium hence the English want to introduce it into Japan. (Townsend Harris)
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. (Townsend Harris)
The President wishes the Japanese to be very prudent about the introduction of opium, and if a treaty is made, he wishes that opium may be strictly prohibited. (Townsend Harris)