The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-08-17
FIRST ENVOY 10 JAPAN
In 1882 Edmund Roberts Ef-
fected the First OvertureS
BORN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
At Thirteen Received n Midship-
mans Warrant in the United
States Navy--He Opened the Way
TO Achievement In Trade and
Diplomacy.

To the mouth OF the Piscataqua
iver, in AID. 1903, where Ports
outh now stands, came Capt. Mar
"A Pring, making surveys of the
'ew Hampshire coast.
in later years Pring, command
lg the ship James Royal, OF 1000
9ns, sailed to Japan Pring, on his
return from japan in 1920, raised
a fund OF over $40 for The East
India School," to be established in
Virginia.
In July, 1905, 800 years after
Pring, in the steamer Minnesota,
Baron Komura, peace envoy OF the
Mikado, sent to treat with the Cars
Ministers, moved down Yeddo Bay.
Some miles below Mississippi Bay,
off Goldsborough Inlet, he passed
under the shadow OF Will Adams
tomb to come to Po-tmouth, n. H.,
the site first visited by Prlng, and
whence, in 1892, the first accredited
American envoy to Japan, Capt. Ed
mund Roberts. sailed, with Presi-
dent Andrew Jackson's authority. to
conclude treaty of peace and COM
merce with Komura's country.
The rise OF the American COM
merce in Asia is from many points OF
view highly romantic. 1t was not
the work of the Government, but
sprang from individual initiative.
Gradually from our ports brave
traders sailed forth in their sailing
vessels, until In time there was de-
ve'oped the superb and matchless
American clipper ship. Yet this
commercial success was won In the
teeth of frightful discouragements
Chinese and Malay pirates were as
persistently busy as hungy mos
quitos. Even under settled Govern
ments in Slam, for example, native
creditors had power over the life as
well as the property Of American
debtors. Our sailors were treated
with barbarity, for who was there to
protect or punish their oppressors?
All this was seen by a young man
born In Portsmouth, n. H., who to
unique opportunity joined daring
and ability. Edmund Roberts, de-
scendant of a line Of officers in the
British Navy, was born in Ports
~2cIth, June 90, 1884. At thirteen
ough his Congressman, he re-
wed a Midshipman's warrant In
United States Navy, but obeyed
wish of his mother. While she
ID he remained at home, until
90.
Incredible as II may seem, no
American man-of-war had yet sailed
into the seas beyond Africa. From
the Cape of Good Hope even to
Yezo and Saghalien the state of our
unprotected commerce was pain
fully impressed upon his attention.
In Java, Sumatra the Philippine
Islands, not a few of our sailors
were rotting in prisons, were en-
shaved among savage tribes, pired
Is castaways on Japanese shores, or
were treated with scant respect by
Asiatic rulers, whether petty or
grand.
On his return, Roberts interested
his personal friend, Levi Woodbury.,
then United States Senator from the
Granite State, afterward Jackson's
Secretary Of the Navy. in his larger
plans. The result was that Roberts
was appointed special envoy for the
purpose of effecting treaties which
should put our commerce on an
equality enjoyed by other more-fav-
ored nations. Leaving Boston in
March, 1892, Roberts, after visiting
Montevideo. made favorable
treaty with the Sultan Of Muscat.
September 81, 1898, providing for
United States Consuls, the proper
treatment OF Americans, and for our
equality with the most-favored ma
tions.
Reaching home by taking the
United States ship Lexington from
Rio Janeiro, after two years alb
sence, Roberts remained with his
family a few months and went out
again in the Peacock to ratify the
old treaties, make new ones, and
above all to gain access, as he often
hopSlully utCldISu, 10 lnb CLOSED
ports of the hermit nation, Japan,
Unfortunately, in China his hopeful
career was closed.
Roberts discovered also that il
was against the Portuguese grain to
return properly our men-of-war's
salutes, that is, gun for gun. How
could republic be equal to a mon
archy or President deserve the
honor given to a King? At Porto
Praya there was some anxiety after
the Americans honor guns had
thundered. But why? Because
Lieutenant Matthew c. Perry, in
that part of the world and away
back In 1919. would not take the
one gun less allowed by Portuguese
to republican Governments, and the
United States steamship Cyane went
In contemptuous silence out of the
harbor. The same officer as treaty
maker in Japan thirty-four years
later would abate not one jot of
etiquette, and never oven appeared