253 6.47 The Treaty of Amity and Commerce (1/2)
”ARTICLE I. There shall henceforth be perpetual peace and friendship between the United States of America and His Majesty the [shogun] of Japan and his successors.”
I read out the first sentence of the treaty. ”Can anyone point out the mistake here?” I offered a few coins as I asked the guests and also the other guests that made up of the Mayors of Fukushima. ”No one can answer that or simply afraid that it might be a backlash to you. In that's the case let me answer it for you, okay?”
”Who is the United States and who was this treaty addressed to? Wasn't it James Buchanan, the 15th POTUS? Why wasn't it stated here? If it is not him, would it be the Foreign Minister? Trade and Affairs Minister? Who? I might name my child as the United States and would this treaty comes from him?”
”And here's a blank that stated [shogun] instead of His Majesty, Tokugawa Iemochi. Why leave it blank? Is it going to be named other than Tokugawa Iemochi or some peach head like Ruffnutt and Tuffnut instead?”
”The first article here is already improper...” I pointed out.
ARTICLE 111. In addition to the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate, the following ports and towns shall be opened on the dates respectively appended to them, that is to say: Kanagawa, on the 4th of July, 1859, Nagasaki, on the 4th of July, 1859; Niigata, on the Ist of January, 1860; Hyogo, on the lst of January, 1863.
”Wow...!!! You can really force this down the throats of the People of Japan, do you? In writing these, it shows that you are imposing the changes and not to the gradual changes that it would take for the People of Japan to adjust to. It is good for you to foresee these changes according to you, but what about the sentiments of the Japanese?”
”His Majesty could see how well I could ask for plots of lands around this corporation since I made a proposal based on verbal and I put the task at hand immediately after I had procured them. You wish the ports to open, for what purpose? State the purpose than... ”
I began to strike it off and circled it before I wrote in huge caps of 'THE PURPOSE' and 'PLEASE ELABORATE' I and also wrote in 'GIVE ME A PROPOSAL'. I I wrote also 'WRITE-IN DIFFERENT FORMS' I for the proposal. A single piece of parchment is now being struck off and being delivered by my bold writings.
The Hitokiri with a reed pen is on a massacre mission now... Mmuuuaaahahahahaha....!!!
”Six months after the opening of Kanagawa, the port of Shimoda shall be closed as a place of residence and trade for American citizens. In all the foregoing ports and towns American citizens may permanently reside; they shall have the right to lease ground, and purchase the buildings thereon, and may erect dwellings and warehouses....”
”Don't these people need to register as aliens first or immigrants? Let me see the port of Shimoda first before we conclude...” I looked at the map given and asked a messenger to write an invitational letter to come over to the Governor there soonest possible if he knew about the closure of his port through this treaty.
I wrote a big 'KIV' on this article and circled it a few times. Also, I wrote 'AGREEMENT?' next to it ensuring that two parties agree on this.
”Before we let anyone come here to reside, we would like to know their capacities... Be it financial or economical. Unless they are here as a commoner and put to work, then it's a totally different thing. Give me a list of people their names, education level, ages, demographics, state of stay and their reasons and contributions to the society.”
I circled out the whole phrases and wrote what I wanted into it after I had verbally spoken to the delegates.
”No wall, fence, or gate shall be erected by the Japanese around the place of residence of the Americans, or anything done which may prevent a free egress and ingress to the same.”
”Did you see any fences around here or walls that separate the residential and commercial area? None whatsoever right? However, back in the States, your plots and lands were divided by high fences to keep your nosy neighbours out, so why should you state the no such structures were to be built by the Japanese? Strike this off too... It is discriminating...!”
And I began to strike off that part and added a few question marks to it. Frankly, the top portion of the treaty had now become like rubbish if someone glances through it. There were bold letters, cancellations and all sort of stuff on it.
”From the lst of January 1862, Americans shall be allowed to reside in the City of Edo; and from the Ist of January 1863, in the City of Osaka, for the purposes of trade only. In each of these two cities a suitable place within which they may hire houses, and the distance they may go, shall be arranged by the American Diplomatic Agent and the Government of Japan....”
”You really can travel into the future and back eh? Ewah... Ewah... Ewah... (a slang used in mockery) first is allowed to reside and then its main purpose of trade only. These are two different things, my friend.”
”How many people would be here be? What are their demographics? What about their trade? Would they bring in new stuff and technology? Or would it be another competitor within our trade? Let me know... I'm going to circle yet another of this article... ”
I went ahead and circled the treaty and once again it looked like a normal piece of paper that was marked by a teacher in a history lesson. A lesson indeed for Townsend Harris. I would not want to see the downfall of the Shogun, especially by Tokugawa Iemochi at all.
I drew circles and a grumpy face with wiggly lines for its mouth. And I wrote 'PROPOSAL'. Simple as that. It denotes on how many people would be coming in and be restricted to that number.”
And also the types of trade this would be influencing the People of Japan. Some day, going to push Fasuto Japan KabushikiGaisha to the top tier in business and evolution of the Industrialization Era... Hahahahaha. Die la you, Townsend Harris. Kena bully by a small kid. Hahahahaha.