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
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
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. 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
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 President is of opinion that if Japan makes a treaty with the United States, all other foreign countries will make the same kind of a treaty, and Japan will be safe thereafter. 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 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
