the open ports. Commerce was authorized, additional ports were opened, and a tariff and trade regulations were agreed upon. Americans were permitted to reside at the capital and at all the open ports, jurisdiction over them was given to their consuls, and the free exercise of their religion was guaranteed. Other provisions were made, and the treaty was so broad as to remain practically the basis of Japan's relations with all the Western countries for a period of forty years, or until the empire was finally released from its pupilage in 1899, and admitted freely into the family of nations.
Lord Elgin, governor-general of India, and British ambassador accompanying the forces in China, reached the Bay of Yedo the month following the signature of the Harris treaty, having stopped on the way at Shimoda to confer with the American diplomat, from whom he obtained a copy of his treaty, and secured the aid of his secretary, Mr. Heusken, as interpreter. He remained in the bay nine days, in which time he signed a treaty modeled after that of the United States, and delivered to the Japanese government a yacht as a present from the queen of Great Britain. The French and Russian fleets were in the harbor during the same month, and following the example of the British, their representatives negotiated similar treaties.[1]
Happy auspices attended the sequel to the signature
- ↑ For Harris negotiations, Harris Journal, Griffis, chaps, xiii. to xvi.; Harris Letter, July 6, 1858, Littell's Liv. Age, 1859, p. 571; Nitobe, 113; 1 Japan, by Sir E. J. Reed, London, 1880, p. 252; Narrative of Lord Elgin's visit, etc., Lawrence Oliphant, New York, 1860; London Examiner, Nov. 6, 1858, in Littell's Liv. Age, 1858, p. 893; 1 The Capital of the Tycoon, by Sir R. Alcock, London, 1863, pp. 208–222.
