Su. F. Rozen
rogvs 7
I
**
JAPAN AND ITS PEOPLE
The following extracts from a letter received by a gentleman in Manchester from his son, a naval officer who is now serving in Japanese waters, will be read with interest:-
Yokohama, Oct. 15, 1883,
The Japanese Government, with whom dealings have been held, cannot be considered in the same light as a government at home strong in its support by armies, navies, and public opinion. The Tycoon is superior to, and exacts allegiance from, the Daimios; but, say the latter, cannot make new laws or abrogate old ones without their concurrence. How that may be we cannot say, little truth being known about the real constitution of Japanese Government, and no written code of laws having hitherto, I believe, been examined by us. I believe, though, that the Government does its best. I do not concur with those who allege false faith or evasions of treaty obligations on their part. The perpetrators of the various late outrages were in no way connected with the government. Undoubtedly that Government was remiss in its pursuit of the criminals, and showed no alacrity to pay the indemnity. But we should remember that their civilisation is 2300 years behind ours; that human life has not by any means an equal value here to what we set upon it. The Government was in a very difficult position; hard pressed on one side by the powerful Conservative party, on the other by the significant attitude of the British forces, by the threatening omen of the late events in China, ending in the treaty of Tien-tsin, and by a quarrel with the court of the Spiritual Emperor at Miako.
On the other hand they have fulfilled well all the stipulations regarding Yokohama. A fine Bund and several piers have been solidly constructed. The streets are drained. Labour is abundantly and cheaply supplied. There are no restrictions on goods when once they have passed the Custom House. In our treaty we had no necessity, as we had in the treaty of Tien-tsin, to insert a clause to the effect that the British nation was not to be designated in official documents by an opprobrious name. Both the common people and the officers of Government are very courteous and good-natured, and have none of the nasty feeling and idiotic satisfied contempt that Chinamen always evince.
To give one instance of the wish of the Government to avoid cause of dispute. There have been lately in the neighbourhood of Yokohama a number of Ronin, or vagabonds, not in the service of any Daimio. Guard houses in every direction around Yokohama have been lately erected. No suspicious person, or, indeed, any person, is allowed to pass without showing written permissions from the Yeddo authorities, stating his name, business, &c. If deemed necessary, even the man's sword or swords may be taken away. That these are precautionary measures, not military posts of offence, is evident from their position. I know this to be a fact from personal conversation with Yakumins. The distrust formerly entertained of us is giving way. Amongst the common people there is little or none; the very children run up to you and beg for a tempo. Books of all kinds, whose sale was formerly prohibited, are now openly sold in every street. Dollars are held legal coin. English manufactures, especially camlets and hardware, are held in much estimation.
A firm but conciliatory spirit in our official relations, backed up by the presence of a respectable force, say two or three corvettes, or even smaller vessels, gain for us by degrees all the advantages we seek—not so quickly as to satisfy the merchants here, who seek to make the greatest possible sum in the smallest possible time; but enough so for the purposes of government, who will look rather to permanent, even if slowly gained, advantages than to rapid and precarious favours from the native government extorted either by fear or diplomacy. Indeed there appears to be no other course open to us. By bombarding the seaports we injure an unoffending people, and do little damage to the potentate who may have excited our anger. A military force of sufficient strength would be very expensive, and military operations would be very difficult in a country like this, all hills and valleys, rice swamps, hedges, thickets, and woods, with few roads, and scarcely any, except the seaside one, fit for the transport of artillery.
In the case of Satsuma, however, it might be comparatively easy to take the Lew Kew Islands, and then have a secure base of operations against any hostile Japanese Government; but how will such territorial acquisitions be looked on at home? There is another powerful and easy means of offence at our disposal I mean the stoppage of the immense junk trade, which would be soon effected by a few of our cruisers and gunboats. All taxes are paid in rice, all wages to Government officials and Daimios' retainers are paid in rice. Rice and fish are the staple food of all classes, and any interruption to the regular supply would have an immense effect throughout the whole empire. Whether we should be justified in thus punishing a whole nation for the fault of a particular Daimio is another question. It would be difficult to make distinction, and yet the measure might be necessary.
A firm conciliatory policy then appears to me to be the best. By contact with our civilisation the Japanese will gradually rub off many of their prejudices. Let us maintain ourselves where we are, and not seek at present fresh ports. To this I would except Osaka, whose neighbourhood to Miako makes it desirable as a base whence we might conduct direct diplomatic relations with the Mikado. Our ships might oftener visit Japanese ports. Instead of lying during the summer months in Hong Kong, or in the deadly river of Shanghai, they might give health and amusement to their crews here. There cannot be any objection to this on the score of defencelessness of Chinese ports, for the time of voyage is only three or four days, and steamers are constantly running, as well as a fortnightly mail (P. and O.).
I will not say any more at present on this subject, and I will say but little now on commercial affairs. There is, however, one very common impression in England, that the trade of this place is not worth keeping, and the value of exports does not exceed £720,000 per year. But the majority of silk and tea goes to Shanghai, and thence to England, and, consequently, is reckoned in English custom-house returns as Chinese exports. The real value of the export trade here is quite £5,000,000 sterling annually, though I can well imagine that the direct trade to England does not exceed £800,000. There are, I should think, 150 to 200 residents in business here, all, apparently, doing well. Houses spring up in every direction, and very soon the concession will have to be increased. At present there are 32 vessels at anchor, exclusive of men of war, and coalers, victuallers, &c. On an average, six vessels weigh a week, loaded with silk, tea, wax, sharks' fins, &c., and a considerable quantity of cotton now just been picked on the fields around.
19
Su. F. Rozen
rogvs 7
I
**
JAPAN AND ITS PEOPLE
The following extracts from a letter received by a gentle man in Manchester from his son, a naval officer who is now serving in Japanese waters, will be read with interest:-
Yokohama, Oct. 15, 1883,
The Japanese Government, with whom dealings have been held, cannot be considered in the same light as a govern. ment at home strong in its support by armies, navies, and public opinion. The Tycoon is superior to, and exacts alle- giance from, the Daimios; but, say the latter, cannot make new laws or abrogate old ones without their concurrence.. How that may be we cannot say, little truth being known about the real constitution of Japanese Government, and no written code of laws having hitherto, I believe, been exam. ined by us. I believe, though, that the Government does its best. I do not concur with those who allege false faith or evasions of treaty obligations on their part. The perpetra- ters of the various late outrages were in no way connected with the government. Undoubtedly that Government was remies in its pursuit of the criminals, and showed no alacrity to pay the indemnity. But we should remember that their civilisation is 2300 years behind ours; that human life has nat by no means an equal value here to what we set upon it. The Government was in a very difficult position; hard pressed on one side by the powerful Conservative party, on the other by the significant attitude of the British forces, by the threstering omen of the late events in China, ending in the treaty of Tien-tsin, and by a quarrel with the court of the Spiritual Emperor at Miako. On the other hand they have fulfilled well all the stipulations regarding Yoko bama, A fine Bond and several piers have been solidly constructed. The streets are drained. Labour is abun- dantly and cheaply supplied. There are no restrictions on goods when once they have passed the Custom House, In our treaty we had no necessity, as we had in the treaty of Tien-tsin, to insert a clause to the effect that the British nation was not a future to be designated in official docaments by an opprobrious name. Both the common people and the officers of Government are very courteous and good-natured, and have none of the nasty feeling and idiotic satisfied contempt that Chinamen always evince.
To give one instance of the wish of the Government to avoid cause of dispute. There have been lately in the neighbourhood of Yokohama a number of Ronin, or vaga- bonds, not in the service of ary Daimio. Guard houses in every direction around Yokohama have been lately erected. No suspicious person, or, indeed, any person, is allowed to pass without showing written permissions from the Yeddo authorities, stating his name, business, &c. If deemed necessary, even the man's sword or swords may be taken away. That these are precautionary measures, not military posts of offence, is evident from their position. I know this to be a fact from personal conversation with Yakumins. The distrust formerly entertained of us is giving way. Amongst the common people there is little or none; the very children run up to you and beg for a tempo. Books of all kinds, whose sale was formerly prohibited, are now openly sold in every street. Dollars are held legal coin. English manufactures, especially camlets and hardware, are held in much estimation. A firm but conciliatory spirit in our official relations, backed up by the presence of a respectable force, say two or three carvettes, or even smaller vessels, gain for us by degrees all the advantages we seek-not so quickly as to satisfy the merchants here, who seek to make the greatest possible sum in the smallest possible time; but enough so for the purposes of government, who will look rather to permanent, even if slowly gained, advantages than to rapid and precarious fay- ours from the native government extorted either by fear or diplomacy. Indeed there appears to be no other course open to us. By bombarding the seaports we injure an unoffend. ing people, and do little damage to the potentate who may have excited our anger. A military force of sufficient strength would be very expensive, and military opera tions would be very difficult in a country like this, aly hills and valleys, rice swamps, hedges, thickets, and woods, with few roads, and scarcely any, except the sea- side one, fit for the transport of artillery. In the case off y Satsuma, however, it might be comparatively easy to take the Lew Kew Islands, and then have a secure base of operations against any hostile Japanese Government; but how will such territorial acquisitions be Icoked on at home? There is another powerful and easy means of offence at our disposal I mean the stoppage of the im. mense junk trade, which would be soon effected by a few of our cruisers and gunboats. All taxes are paid in rice, all wages to Government officials and Daimios' retainers are paid in rice, Rice and fish are the staple food of all classes, and any interruption to the regular supply would have an immense effect throughout the whole empire. Whether we should be justified in thus punishing a whole nation for the fault of a particular Daimio is another ques- tion. It would be difficult to make distinction, and yet the measure might be necessary. A firm conciliatory policy then appears to me to be the best. By contact with our civilisation the Japanese will gradually rub off many of their prejudices. Let us maintain ourselves where we are, and not seek at present fresh ports. To this I would accepti. Osaka, whose neighbourhood to Miako makes it desirable as Abase whence we might conduct direct diplomatic relations, with the Mikado. Our ships might oftener visit Japanese, ports. Instead of lying during the summer months in Hong Kong, or in the deadly river of Shanghai, they might give health and amusement to their crews here. There cannot be any objection to this on the score of defencelessness of Chinese ports, for the time of voyage is only three or four daye, and steamers are constantly running, as well as a fort. nightly mail (P. and O.). I will not say any more at pre- sent on this subject, and I will say but little now on com mercial affairs. There is, however, one very common im pression in England, that the trade of this place is not worth keeping, and the value of exports does not exceed £720,000 per year. But the majority of silk and tea goes to Shanghai, and thence to England, and, consequently, is reckoned in English custom-house returns as Chinese exports. The real value of the export trade here is quite £5,000,000 sterling annually, though I can well imagine that the direct trade to England does not exceed £800,000. There are, I should think, 150 to 200 residents in business here, all, apparently, doing well. Houses spring up in every direction, and very soon the concession will have to be increased. At present there are 32 vessels at anchor, exclusive of men of war, and coalers, victuallers, &c. On an average, six vessels weigh a week, loaded with silk, tea, wax, sharks' fins, &c., and a considerable quantity cotton now just been picked on the
fields around,
19
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