The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-04

The United States Consul at Yokohama,
Japan has sent TO the State Eepart-
ment circular issued by Baron kentaro
! kaneko, the President Of the American
| Association of Japan, and the japanese
| Minister of Justice, relative to ropo-
sition to erect monument to the me mory
| of Commodore Perry, L. S. N, at kuri-
| hama. 1t is suggested that the monument
| should commemorate the arrival of Com
| modore Perry at that place forty-eight
| years ago, when he came the American
| envoy, for the purpose of conducting the
| first treaty of commerce and friendly in
! tercourse between the United States and
| Japan.
The circular is follows;
''Forty-eight years ago. on the Sth of
July. i'll the 9th year of Kayei. an Ameri-
can envoy arrived in Japan, on mission
which was destined to become an epoch
making event in the history of Japan.
This envoy was none other than Commo-
dore Perry. L. S. N, who, by order of the
President of the North American Repub-
lie, came to this country for the purpose
of concluding a treaty of commerce and
friendly intercourse between the two ma
lions. on the 18th of the month above
mentioned, the envoy landed at Kuri-
hama, Miura -gori. in tine province of Sag
ami. and there held conferences repeated
ly with the officials of the Tokugawa Re
eency. The object OF his mission success
fully accomplished, the commodore sailed
home shortly after.
This visit of Commodore Perry was. in
word, the turning of the key which
opened the doors of the japanese Empire
to friendly intercourse with the United
States and subsequently to the rest of
the nations of Europe on similar terms.
and may in truth be regarded as the
most memorable event in our annals-an
event which paved the way for and &C
tolerated the introduction of "a new order
of things: an event that enabled the coun-
try to enter upon the unprecedented era
of national ascendency in which we are
now living There is reason then-a
strong reason-that this visit of G0mmo-
dore Perry no less than the spot where
those memorable conferences took place,
should be perpetuated in the memory of
the Japanese people.
True. Japan has not forgotten-nor VIII
she ever forget-that next to her reignlng
and most beloved sovereign whose high
virtues and great wisdom are above all
praise, she owes, in no small degree. her
present prosperity to the United States
of America, IN that the latter rendered
her the great and lasting service already
referred to. After the lapse of these for
ty-eight years her people have however,
come to entertain but an uncertain mem
Dry of Kurihama, and yet it was there
that Commodore Perry first trod on the
soil of Japan and for the first time awoke
the country from a slumberous seclusion
of three centuries-there it was where
first cleaned the light that has ever since
of progress. Even writers seldom men
tica the place now, and the spot where
tie American envoy landed and which
should forever be remembered in our his
tory threatens to be forgotten altogether.
Last fall we had the pleasure of meet
ing Rear Admiral Beardslee, United
States Navy. who, naval cadet and
a member of the crew under Commodore
Perry, landed at Kurihama on the his
torical occasion, and who. after these
forty-eight years, once more came back
to pay visit to this country. Beckoned
by the memories of the past the admiral
went to Kurihama Immediately after his
arrival in Japan, but he was only able
to ascertain the spot where the envoy
and his party, had landed almost half a
century ago. by the help of an old sur
vivor of those bygone days. We were
greatly moved by his account Of his sec
ond visit to Kurihama and We immedi-
ately set on foot movement to erect n
fitting monument which may perpetuate
the place in question in the memory of
our posterity We have since made such
progress with this movement that a site
for the monument has already been Sc
lected. 1t is our determination to accom-
pllsh the end in view with all possible
promptitude and TO hold the ceremony
of unwilling the monument on the COM
ing anniversary of the landing of the
American envoy at kurihama, the 18th of
July this year. We hope that those who
are interested in the matter win favor
us by endorsing our undertaking in
substantial manner.
Baron KENTARO KANEKO,
president, Bei-yu Kyo-kai.
"(American Association of Japan)
Tokyo. January, 1901
.'P. Subscriptions should be sent to
the office OF Bei-yu kyo-kai. u Yama-