Pacific Commercial Advertiser Reports: Japanese Embassy in Washington, Part One
Six months after the Japanese ambassadorial delegation arrived in Honolulu the Pacific Commercial Advertiser featured further news of their travels in the United States. ‘The Japanese at Washington: Incidents of Their Visit’ was featured in the August 2, 1860 edition of the paper.
The following is a transcript of the first section of the news story. No author is listed, so I am at this point assuming that the text was taken from various newspaper sources that managed through the mails to reach Honolulu.
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The Japanese Embassy addressed a note to Secretary Cass, on the 15th inst., reporting to him, in accordance with the instructions from their Government, their arrival at the city of Washington to exchange the ratifications of the treaty, and that they were ready to perform the ceremony at such day and hour as he might specify. The Secretary replied at once, fixing the next day, at twelve o’clock, for the exchange of ratifications, and that on the following day they would be formally presented to the President. The note of the Embassy was in Japanese, accompanied by a translation.
VISIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE –Accordingly, on Wednesday, 16th inst., the Ambassadors, together with the principal officers, numbering eight persons in all, accompanied by the naval commission, proceeded to the State Department about non, and, after the customary preliminaries, were introduced to Secretary Cass by Captain Dupont. General Cass courteously invited them to seats, when, in the name of the President, he extended to them a grateful welcome to this country. He assured their excellencies that the mission on which they had arrived was of great importance, and as such was appreciated by this government, it being the first of an embassy from Japan. The exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, he trusted, would result in a further development of the friendly and commercial intercourse already commenced, and he assured them that in whatever part of the country their excellencies may visit, they will meet with a cordial welcome. In conclusion, he repeated thet he extended to them, in the name of the President, the hospitalities of the government and people. General Cass stated to them that arrangements had been made for their presentation to the President at twelve o’clock the next day, to which they replied that that this would be agreeable to them, and that they had no other official business to transact. The Embassy availed themselves of this opportunity to express to General Cass their gratitude for the kindness with which they had been received, and said that they were extremely pleased with their visit and welcome in all respects.
(Next: Reception by the President)
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