New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-10-23
THE EXPEDITION TO JAPAN.

The flagship of the japanese expedition
sails from this port to-day for Annapolis, pre-
paratOry to the final departure for the East.
The completion of the steamer Princeton
which has been SO long delayed and has delayed
the squadron-has finally put it in the power
OF Commodore Perry TO set out upon his mis-
sion. Two or three weeks will suffice for the
preparations still necessary, and then We trust
that the undertaking viii cease to be the sub
ect of conjecture and contradictory reports.
A hundred days would be required for the
squadron to reach Hong Kong, where il will
rendezvous, if the utmost dispatch we're used.
But as the storms that prevail during the early
part of the Spring in the seas around the Japa-
nese Islands render it unadvisable to approach
them during that season OF the year. the ships
OF the squadron will probably spend the time in
cruising wherever they may be needed in more
Southern waters until MAY, when they will rs.
semble st Hong Kong, prior to setting sail for
Jcddo. The fleet, as il anchors in that port, ,
viii consist Of thirtcenyesscls, and will certain
ly present most respectable appearance.
The great interest which the expedition has
excited in Europe, andespecially in Holland, has
led to 4 formal discussion Of the matter in the
popular branch ofthe Dutch Parliament, which
deserves the attention Of American readers.
The Government were called upon TO state what
had been the results Of It's efforts made in the
year l2ii, TO induce japan to adopt a more
liberal policy; whether the Dutch Minister ut
Washington had been directed, in 1851, at
the request Of the japanese Government, and
III its behalf, 10 declare that the exclusive sys-
tenn Was merely coniormebc to its ancient laws,
and 10 palliste tie same; whether the media
ton OF Holland between the United States and
Japan at present would not be hurtful to its
own Interests; and whether any favorable re.
,ult would BE- expected thereirom
The entire debate, with the detailed answer
which the Minister OF the Colonies returned
TO these interpretations, is given at length in
the Dutch papers The substance OF the an-
swerwe condense as follows:
Ia the year 154i letter was addressed by
King WILLIE ii. TO the Emperor of japan,
suggesting the modification or abandonment Of
the exclusive system. The reply gave no indi-
cation that the step had been badly received,
nor thai the japanese Government desired to
guard itself against a repetition OF the proposal.
On the contrary, that Government manifested
a decided conviction that Holland had given
the advice from the purest motives, and
with a single eye to the benefit of the
japanese people. IL is true that the
reply expressed regret that the laws of
the Empire rendered it impossible 10 follow
the suggestion, but every word breathcd
nothing but cordial good viii aud friendship.
And, though the effort failed to induce the
Japanese authorities to abandon their former
policy, the good impression made by it was
eyinced in the DEGREES shortly afterwarJ Is
sued, commanding milder treatment Of for
eigners thrown b. disaster upon the shores Of