If you make a treaty first with the United States and settle the matter of the opium trade, England cannot change this, though she should desire to do so.

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

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

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

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

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

Japan and China are isolated and without intercourse with other countries; hence the President directed me to attend to or watch the state of affairs in China also.