Strengthened by the instruction of the Secretary of State, and taking advantage of his friendly relations with the Shogunate, Mr. Pruyn induced the ministers of foreign affairs to recall their letter ordering the closing of the ports and the withdrawal of the foreigners. It is highly probable that the Shogun's action in issuing the order of the Mikado was merely perfunctory, and that his government never expected to attempt its enforcement, knowing full well that it would not be obeyed by the foreigners. Envoys had been sent by it to the governments of Europe asking for the suspension of the treaties and the postponement of the opening of the new ports, but they failed in their purpose, and it was apparent to well-informed Japanese that the country would not be permitted to take a backward step. Upon the withdrawal of the notice for the expulsion of foreigners, the representatives of the treaty powers, recognizing the embarrassments which surrounded the Japanese government, consented to the postponement of the time for the opening of the new ports of Yedo, Hiogo, and others.[1]
Concurrently with these negotiations an event occurred which hastened the adjustment of the internal troubles of Japan and a definite settlement of its foreign relations. The prince of Choshiu, a powerful anti-foreign daimio who was in open rebellion to the Shogun, had sought to close the strait of Shimonoseki, which connected the Inland Sea of Japan with the
- ↑ U. S. Dip. Cor. 1863, 1864, subject "Japan"; Nitobe, 78; 1 Reed's Japan, 263; History of Japan, by Kinse Shiriaku, translation, Yokohama, 1873, p. 30.
