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

If I write in my name to the agents of England and France residing in Asia and inform them that Japan is ready to make a commercial treaty with their countries, the number of steamers will be reduced from fifty to two or three.

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

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.

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

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

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