Page 44 - NS-2 Textbook

THE GROWTH OF AMERICAN SEA POWER 37

Millard Fillmore chose Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry. Perry moved his squadron closer to shore, where
Perry to head a naval squadron to Japan. Perry, the the Japanese could easily see that this mission of peace
younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake was well supported by the equipment for war. Perry re-
Erie, was the perfect man for the job. He had more diplo- alized the importance of cerenlony and 1/ face" in the con-
matic experience than any other naval officer. He had duct of affairs with the Japanese.
forty-four years of naval service and had taken part in A thirteen-gun salute echoed over the anchorage as
luost important naval actions since 1808. Peny's ntission Perry stepped into his barge. One hlmdred marines in
was to carry a letter from the president to the emperor of well-starched dress uniforms, a company of seamen, and
Japan and to conclude a treaty that would satisfy all two Navy bands preceded the barge in fifteen glmboats,
three TIlain American interests. serving as a guard of honor. Perry was flanked by two
Perry's seven ships sailed in November 1852 from huge African American seamen who served as body-
the United States and met in Hong Kong the following guards, the first blacks the Japanese had ever seen. In
spring. Leaving three ships in Okinawa, he entered front of them marched two yOlmg midshipmen carrying
Japanese waters with his steam frigates and anchored at the president's letter in a beautiful rosewood box. After
the entrance to Tokyo Bay on 8 July 1853. The Japanese the letter was delivered to the prince, Perry annOlmced
had never seen steamships, and they could not fail to be that the squadron would depart for China in a few days
impressed with the fact that Perry had all guns loaded but would return in the spring with more ships for a
and readied for action. reply to the president's letter.
Having arrived, Peny put into practice all the things He returned in February with a much larger
he had learned from previous attempts to trade and ne- squadron. The Japanese had been convinced by the first
gotiate with the Japanese. He ordered away the Japanese visit that America was a nation ·worthy of trade. ·When
guard boats and refused to deal with anyone whose rank the Americans returned, more ceremonies took place,
was lower than his own. He made it clear that he would and there were exchanges of gifts. The Americans were
entrust President Fillmore's letter only to a member of given silks and carvings and other handicrafts. The
the imperial family. For a week the commodore refused Japanese received firearms, tools, clocks, stoves, a tele-
to allow himself to be seen, while the Japanese fretted graph, and even a one-quartEr-size locomotive complete
and debated about what was to be done. with tendel; coach, and circular track. The track was
Finally, on 14 July the Japanese sent the Prince of Izu, quickly laid and the Japanese envoys were treated to
one of the imperial cotmselors, to act on the emperor's rides on the little cars, with their robes flying in the
behalf. They set up a fine pavilion on the shore to receive breeze as the train went around at 20 miles per hour.

The second landing of Commodore Perry and his officers to meet the Imperial Commissioners at Yokohama, Japan, in February 1854. The
Treaty of Kanagawa was Signed in March, opening several Japanese ports to American shipping. Other parts of the treaty led to a trade agree-
ment opening Japan to trade with the United States and other nations.