A Journal of the Perry Expedition to Japan (1853-1854) #272178

The other point referred to concerns a discussion in Dr. Nitobe's Intercourse between the United States and Japan involving Commodore Perry's indebtedness in construct ing his treaty to the draft of a compact presented by Donker Curtius to the Governor of Nagasaki in November, 1852. It is expressly stated in the Introduction to the official Narrative of the Expedition that this draft was unknown to the Ameri cans nor is much reliance to be placed upon the quotations Dr. Nitobe makes in support of the bellicose attitude of Perry based upon Siebold's mendacious Eroffnung Japans. It is fairly logical to surmise that, if there had been any knowledge of a Dutch treaty in the American fleet, the Interpreter would have heard of it and mentioned it in his journal.