Townsend Harris Quotations

When the ambassadors of other foreign countries come to Japan to make treaties, they can be told that such and such a treaty has been made with the ambassador of the United States, and they will rest satisfied with this.

If Japan had been near to either England or France, war would have broken out long ago.

By means of steam one can go from California to Japan in eighteen days.

Any nation that refuses to hold intercourse with other nations must expect to be excluded from this family.

Two things are desired in order that intercourse may be had: First, that a minister or agent be allowed to reside at the capital. Second, that commerce between different countries be freely allowed.

In case of war, a treaty would have to be made at the end of the war.

If war should break out between England and Japan, the latter would suffer much more than the former.

It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also.

The nations of the West hope that by means of steam communication all the world will become as one family.

In time of war steamships and improved arms are the most important things.