New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-31
lions Of treaties with many Of these Itave been


exchanged since the successful issue OF, Com
modore Pery's expedition, but these contlacts
| in their practical working have not In every
instance proved satisfactory. The trained
diplomacy Of Europe was an overmatch for
the inexperience of even the most cul-
turcd and subtle Japanese statesmen. 1t
is now discovered that the treaties have been
| 80 made or ut least are 80 CONSTITUENCIES to
secure only to Japan the obligation Of giving,
while conceding to Others the privilege OF
taking. These Yankees of the East were not,
however, lacking in Yankee shrewdness-they
knew that they did not know, and had a very
pronounced suspicion that their ignorance Of
| international usages might trap them into
bad bargains. They therefore shrewdy in
serted clause into all their Treaties that
they should be terminable upon o specified
notice. Such notice they have recently given,
aid July of next year will leave the Empire
free from all its Treaty engagements.
1t is IN no design of permanently cancel
ing ell business connection with "thOse who
"are without" that this step has been taken.
, it proceeds solely from a desire for more
GU; able distribution of obligation and priyi-
icPJ between the contracting powers. 1t has
ia rIal!y occurred to the Government that In
thr proposed revision they are but little bet
tr prpqred to cope with foreign embassa-
tors than they were at the date of the exist
girAtics They have found that the shoe
r,ncLeI. and they therefore propose to discard
it bu5 they feel them selves incompetent to Sc
lcct new ono which will not have the same or
other, md possibly greater, inconvenience. This
business of dealing with foreigners is 80 I'M
"a, tn fI,nir
shrink from trusting themselves unaided to
such negotiations. The requisite knowledge
and experience not being obtainable at home,
they have scnsibly rcsortcd to importation to
supply tho need. Their earliest and most in
innate relations are with the United States,
and having decided that this would be the
Ii lest country to furnish the proper person,
they have after due inquiry selected the Hon.
f. =. shine Smith of Rochester as their
aGyiser--nn office which may warrant
ably enough be styled Crown Coun-
sci in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
This gentleman has accepted, and sails from
SAN Francisco on the 1st of November to en-
ter upon his new duties. The result will JUS
tiff the choice. Japan has secured capacity
industry, experience, knowledge, zeal, and ILL
tcgrity in her councils by this appointment
lnd aided by these she will be thoroughly
prepared to act wisely and understandlngly I'D
framing her future foreign pohty. Inc
task is no less vast than delicate
There must Iceds be discOuragements, |
hesitancics, delays, and, on the part OF those
opposed to the Government scheme, suspicious
and jealOusics. On the other hand, inc
ansoicps are propious. Time and patient labor |
will, il is believed by those best fitted to form
an opinion. overcome all obstacles of willfnl- |
ness ignorance, or inertia, and the Empire
will be placed on enduring relations Of alnlty
and reciprocity with the prominent CONNER
cial nations of the West.
Even the attempt at an achieve
mcnt so radically subversve OF pre-
yiOus policy is remarkable, bat much
more striking is the boldneSs with which
the instrument for That end is selected. Pre-
ccdcnt furnishes no instance, except In the
analogous case Of Burlingame, OF great ma
ton intlusing task so important, and IN
yolving so great responsibility and dclicacy,
10 an alien in birth, tongue, creed, and race.
The choice is therefore in equal measure cred
liable to the empire and to its chosen Crown
Advocate. We bid them both hearty god
speed in this their New Departure, coupling
with this the prediction that the result will
prove bencticpnt not alone to Japan, but to her
colossal neighbOr Of the Middle Kingdom. 1t |
ia, We trust, the initial step in progress
which, in the not distant future, will compel
u revision of that compliment arithmetic |
which 30 figures the relative scale of proper
ton between the East and the West as to make
Better fifty years oi Europe than cycle of Cathay."