Townsend Harris

The President regards the Japanese as a brave people; but courage, though useful in time of war, is subordinate to knowledge of…

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

The United States have no possessions in the east and do not desire to have any, as other countries do.

— Townsend Harris

Open the doors to all. Let the children of the rich and the poor take their seats together and know of no…

— Townsend Harris

If you make a treaty first with the United States and settle the matter of the opium trade, England cannot change this,…

— Townsend Harris

The President of the United States thinks that for the Japanese opium is more dangerous than war.

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

The expense of a war could be paid in time; but the expense of opium, when once the habit is formed, will…

— Townsend Harris

We do not wish to open your ports to foreign trade all at once.

— Townsend Harris

Two things are desired in order that intercourse may be had: First, that a minister or agent be allowed to reside at…

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

The President is of opinion that if Japan makes a treaty with the United States, all other foreign countries will make the…

— Townsend Harris

When the ambassadors of other foreign countries come to Japan to make treaties, they can be told that such and such a…

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

We were sent to this country by the President, who desires to promote the welfare of Japan, and are quite different from…

— Townsend Harris

It will be quite satisfactory if you open them gradually, as the circumstances may require; but the President assures you that this…

— Townsend Harris

If I write in my name to the agents of England and France residing in Asia and inform them that Japan is…

— Townsend Harris

As the treaty made with the United States was the first treaty entered into by your country with other countries, therefore the…

— Townsend Harris

Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the…

— Townsend Harris

The President wishes the Japanese to be very prudent about the introduction of opium, and if a treaty is made, he wishes…

— Townsend Harris

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

— Townsend Harris

Since the invention of steamships distant countries have become like those that are near at hand.

— Townsend Harris