ABSTRACT
On 26 march 1873 foreign residents welcomed Sir Harry Parkes back to what the Japan Mail called 'the wooden shanties, the ill-drained streets, the poor equipages and apparel; the poverty, meanness and obscurity of Yedo'. 1 Adams and Watson who had officiated in his absence had been unenthusiastic supporters of British commerce and somewhat willing to compromise with Japanese aspirations, so British traders were relieved to see a diplomatic ally return to promote their interests. Parkes" view of Japan like that of much the foreign community had changed little in the previous two years, and even the Japan Mail which was usually sympathetic to the Meiji Government declared 'We cannot lay our hand upon any one thing and say this is a real solid convincing piece of evidence that the country as a whole is going forward.'
