The visits of the French and American squadrons and their withdrawal without accomplishing their purpose were interpreted by the Koreans as great military triumphs, and made them even more determined in their policy of exclusion over the foreigners. For some years after these events the Western powers desisted from further attempts to hold intercourse with them. The Japanese, after the reinstatement of the Mikado in power, made an effort to have the former relations between the two governments reëstablished, with a renewal of the Korean embassies and tribute, but the effort was haughtily rejected by the Koreans, influenced, it is believed, to this course by the Chinese. Further attempts which were made to establish intercourse were futile, and the Japanese settlement at Fusan on the southern end of the peninsula was greatly restricted in its privileges. The Japanese were incensed at this treatment, and a large party in the country looked forward hopefully to another conflict with their neighbors which might bring them again under subjection to the Island Empire.
An opportunity to realize their hopes seemed to offer itself in 1875, when a Japanese man-of-war, cruising along the coast, was attacked by the same forts which had been the scene of conflict with the French and American squadrons. Japan seemed ready to declare war, but more sober counsels prevailed, and it was determined first to send a mission to Korea and solicit a treaty of intercourse and commerce. If such a treaty should be refused, war was to follow. An able representative was sent to Peking to notify the Chinese
