ABSTRACT
In the treaty concluded between Japan and the United States in March 1854 there is a provision that the American ships shall be supplied with fuel, water, and foodstuffs at the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate. In Clause VII of the treaty it is stated that the Americans are free to purchase the needed goods with money or goods, etc., which was the first time foreigners were permitted to make purchases of Japanese goods with foreign money in Japan. But in Clause VIII of the same treaty it is also stated that when the Americans purchase fuel, water, foodstuffs, coal, and other necessaries in a Japanese port, they shall do so through the local Japanese Government officials at the port, and shall not deal with the individual Japanese, etc. From the last quoted provision it may be inferred that the Japanese Government admitted foreign money into the Government coffers, but not into general circulation. The Japanese Government officials who negotiated with Commodore Perry insisted that they could not alter the traditional policy of the Tokugawa Shogunate, prohibiting foreigners from trading with individual Japanese, and Perry could not persuade them to agree to the opening of their country to foreign intercourse and trade in the true sense of the words, but had to be satisfied for the time being with the opening of two ports, Shimoda and Hakodate, so that foreigners might supply their needs there. He had to leave the question for future negotiations between the two countries, for which purpose the treaty had such provisions as Clause VI that “ matters regarding necessary purchases … shall be decided after negotiations between the two Governments,” etc., and Clause XI that “ some officials of the Government of the United States may be stationed at Shimoda,” etc.
