The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-30

permanent and hence heir Hbera4y they further d.
clined reiusdhg The daersnee between 200 and 200
press their claim against Dr. Wells Williams although
was mentioned) for the difference between 800 and
$50 Ca cash on The estimated q GOO paid in aakcdsd
HxnAIp, December IL, 1885, Mr.. Harris, the Consul
General stated that he had made convention With Tho
Japanese, establishing tho value Of dollar at 1910 cash.
convention, probably the one referred 70, was signed
on the 18th june 1857 by which the dollar sse article 81
allowing per cent reduction for reoonass In subse.
quen treaties the per cent for reconago was no longer
In September, 1885, the following conversation took
place between an American naval officer and Dutch
acquaintance In Nagasak on visiting Joss stick manu-
They viii sell you package containing ton OF these
sticks for treny.
wen, il Is hard 70 say what Eeny s-that rs, what
Is really worth Fifteen hundred and eighty four Of them
equal 10 itebu, and three sebus have lately been
made (hr0ugh the exertOns 0f your Consul, Mr. Town
send Harris, at simoda,) equal 70 MEXICAN dollar.
would therefore, be supposed that forty eight OF them
copper and iron required stfory eight could
not be bought in Europe Tor less than from twenty 70
twenty-five cents treny, therefore, y actually wsrth
at would be good speculation TO buy them up as
metal and export them" observed.
Excellent but 1t is not permitted" &C.
The above illustrates the uncertainty in exchanges m
Japan for long after Mr. Harris made his convention the
rates remained unchanged in Nagasaki where people
were getting 600 cash Tor their dollar and no more
The commercial transactions in Japan, though some
times heavy thus far to have been mostly simple
exchanges Of merchandise and the coin furnished by the
Japanese 10 have only been used for house
hold expenses, and bills for acquered ware. The large
number of foreigners now residing in Japan have in
creased the demand for Japanese coin and the govern
ment has been obliged, according to treaties u coin
larger number Of its tsebus than at first contemplated As
long the expense by foreigners was limited TO Mr.
Harris and secretary, and the occasional visit Of naval
officers, the disparity was NOT SO apparent.
In the opinion Of DR. Wells Williams, doubt the pay
Of Mr. Harris OF 81 $780, at 900 cash to the dollar would
be only $4,000 in Japan, while the Japanese are,
doubtless, Of opinion that i is equal TO three
cash TO the dollar Is maintained through their furnishing
tsebus and direct dealing with the tradespeope This
disparity too great long to exist and is earnestly TO
be hoped that this misunderstanding may find its level
without leading breach in the friendly relations al
ready established and capable Of such profitable deveope
ment
The only possible solution Of this difficulty remains with
the Japanese government by assmilang the value Of
is in perfect keeping with their mode OF doing business,
they of their ignorance in many respects,
with difficulty, they postpone and attempt TO compro
mse. Soft surgeons are apt TO make hard wounds In
their views Of compromise, they have now invented
coin, exclusively TO be used in the intercourse with
foreigners. H4N
cannot be denied that the embarrassments to result
Japan, will Be Of very serious nature doubling IN value
as II would, all the gold they now possess. Should a
further consequence be free export q bullion, its i'm.
aurferous wealth of Japan, accounts held thus far for
reliable to be believed that the Emperor gold being
crown III one year cause more kOu 10 DO
produced than is supplied by California and Aus.
traa together Whatever solution may be arrived at
Is Of the greatest importance that ths vexed ques-
ton be settled q durable basis and without delay; not
only because may endanger existing friendly feelings but
may lead 10 heavy losses by parties believing in treaty
spulatons who expect their being carried out and in
case OF loss may make claims against the United States
Should such claims be preferred against Japan they
might not easily BIO recoverable they would have
been five or six years ago.
For than three years back the Japanese have
poyed European officers in the organization Of troops
the European PLAN They have foundries and five
steamers and than this the most expert
dplomadsts for putting off a question
The late affair at the Peiho must have taught them that
If Chinese, who despsed in Japan for their cowardce
can make successful resistance to highly disciplined
European force, they need not allow themselves to be
frightened into making concessions.
The next intelligence from Japan will be read with in
tereBt as it will probably inform what action has been
taken by Mr. Harris in this matter. Mr. Harris may be
supposed TO have been long enough in Japan TO know
that suspendng trade with the japanese, the British
Consul General, Mr. Acock, ordered, only be detr
mental TO the interests Of his countrymen and Of very
little consequence TO the Japanese merchant has very
little say, and the officials long they get their
pay will rather favor q suspension.
At last accounts some thirty vessels were lying in
Nagasak harbor From this one may judge Of the mag
nitude of the interests involved and form estimate OF
what losses will have to be sustained should such
trcme measure as suspension have been resorted to.