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.
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 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 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.
The President of the United States thinks that for the Japanese opium is more dangerous than war.
It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also.
