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

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.

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

The President wishes the Japanese to be very prudent about the introduction of opium, and if a treaty is made, he wishes that opium may be strictly prohibited.

The President regards the Japanese as a brave people; but courage, though useful in time of war, is subordinate to knowledge of arts; hence, courage without such knowledge is not to be highly esteemed.

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