The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-01 00:00:00

TRADE WITH JAPAN.

The entire correspondence explaining the causes
of the suspension of trade witu Japan has been
published. Its chief features have already been de-
tailed, and there is every probability that the expo-
sure now made of the conduct pursued by our com-
mercial people at the ports of that kingdom will be
attended with summary effect. As the French
and American authorities have manifested a full
disposition to co-operate with our own Consul-
General in the task of repression, a perfect cure may
be hoped. Otherwise, as the Japanese place all
foreigners in the same category, only very limited
benefit could accrue from steps directed against
Englishmen. The statements now furnished con-
firm the fact that the profit recently obtainable on
the exchange of silver for geld was 100 per cent.,
and that representatives of some British houses in
the East have been eagerly and unscrupulously
carrying on this traffic, until their acquisitive mania
overpowered all sense of decency or self-respect.
The silver currency of Japan consists of coins called
itzebons, which can be obtained at a specific rate in
exchange for dollars upon application at the Go-
vernment Treasury. Tin-. e are also gold pieces
termed kobangs, the exportation of which is prohi-
bited. Owing to such prohibition, which is believed
to have been in force more than two centuries, the
natives, when the trade of the country was opened
to foreigners in September last, were ignorant of
the relative value of the two metals. There was a
general rush, therefore, on the part of the foreigners
to buy up the gold, but to obtain the.means it was
necessary to get dollars 'exchanged for the silver
itzebons, in which alone business could be carried
on. The Government Treasury was consequently
besieged, and, as the officials got into confusion and
could not supply the demand with sufficient ra-
pidity, some of the speculators seem. to have hit
upon the device of sending in c'.aims for preposter-
ous amounts, on the assumption, doubtless, that if
each applicant only got a percentage of what he
asked by asking enough he might get quite as
much as he was prepared to pay for. The plan of
course soon found imitators, and at last requisitions
were sent in of a vulgar and insulting character.
A Mr. B. Telge applied on one day for change for
250 millions of dollars, equal to 50 millions ster-
ling. Mr. J. S. Barber contented himself with ask-
ing for four millions, but Messrs. Thomas Eskrigge
and Thomas Tatham sent in lists of the names of
pretended clients formed out of a multitude of slang
terms, and for totals beyond any extent that can
be comprehended. In addition to these proceed-
ings, the inhabitants were subjected to constant
annoyances from the drunken crews of our own
and other foreign vessels, which led in some cases
to fatal retaliations on innocent persons. Under
the circumstances, therefore, the Government of
Japan, by various indirsct contrivances and pro-
hibitions, have placed impediments in the
way of trade which operates as a total
stoppage. The probability of a return to a better
order of things will, of course, depend upon the
results of the vigorous reprobation with which the
delinquents by whom it has been caused have been
visited by their respective consuls.