1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 174 The Temptation of Japan

"Our trade with the Far East is very important, and the Far East is becoming more and more important because of the increasing interactions between our Pacific coast ports and East Asia.

The prosperity of the West Coast of the United States depends on the trade between the United States and the Far East. Ships carrying commercial activities from California to the Far East also need a safe haven and commodity distribution center."

President Fillmore looked away from the Mississippi.

"These are the exact words in the letter from California State Speaker Liang Yao. My thoughts coincide with his."

After the Opium War, the privileges that Britain gained in the Qing Dynasty deeply stimulated and stirred the restless heartstrings of American politicians.

The big piece of the Qing market was already occupied by the British. Although the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing did not change the current situation of Britain's trade deficit with the Qing, the privileges that the British obtained in the Qing were very attractive.

The Qing Dynasty had already been conquered by Great Britain. The United States and Great Britain were so disparate in strength that they did not dare to openly compete with the British for the big piece of the Qing Dynasty market.

However, the Qing Dynasty was not the only country in the Far East. There was also Japan, a country of considerable size that the British had no interest in getting involved in.

"Liang Yao? I have often heard this name. It is said that California is developing very well now, and this state speaker has contributed a lot to it. He immigrated to the United States from the Qing Dynasty. I think he knows the Qing Dynasty and Japan better than we do.

It is necessary for me to get in touch with Mr. Speaker and get as much information about Japan as possible."

Perry followed Fillmore around.

Fillmore walked to the side of the ship, leaned on the railing and looked into the distance.

"Perhaps, he will make a trip to the east in the near future. At that time, I can talk to him about the founding of Japan and listen to his views on Japan. I support your plan to expedition to Japan. Congress has strict regulations on trade with Japan.

The voice was also very loud.

An American whaling ship encountered a shipwreck off the coast of Japan and came ashore to ask for help. These barbaric Japanese actually detained and tortured American citizens, and also transferred American citizens to Dutch merchant houses for disposal. What is this like? These people must be given

Show some color to the barbaric Japanese, let them bathe in the glory of civilization and experience the power of civilization!

I think it is necessary for us to establish an embassy in Japan to protect the interests of American citizens in Japan, rather than letting the Dutch solve these problems for us."

Since the 1820s, American whaling ships departing from the Oregon region have often come to the coast of Japan to catch whales. The coast of Japan has become one of the five fishing grounds of the American whaling industry in the Pacific.

However, because the United States does not have nautical charts for the coast of Japan, and the weather at sea is cloudy and changeable, American whaling ships are often killed off the coast of Japan.

Most of these American sailors who came ashore were detained and mistreated by the Japanese and handed over to Dutch merchants. The Dutch merchants then sent these American sailors to their colony of Java. In order to redeem these American citizens, the United States still needs to negotiate with the Dutch Barbarians.

Negotiations with the Davia colonial authorities were very troublesome.

Moreover, the Dutch will also ask for fees such as mediation fees, crew placement fees, board and lodging fees, etc., which makes the American government very disgusted.

When the news that the Japanese mistreated American whaling ship crews reached the United States, it aroused public outrage and made the American government feel ashamed. The American government also protested to the Japanese shogunate.

The Japanese shogunate insisted that this was a spy sent to Japan by the American government, and asked the Dutch to tell the American government to prohibit Americans from fishing in Japan's offshore waters.

In this regard, it is naturally impossible for the United States to accept the Japanese demands.

The United States is the number one whaling country, and the whaling industry is very important to the United States, providing at least 100,000 jobs for the United States.

Whale products are one of the few export products available to the United States besides cash crops such as cotton, sugar cane, and tobacco.

American whale oil not only lights up the nights of American cities such as New York and Philadelphia, but also lights up the nights of London and Paris.

Before the birth of the chemical industry, whaling was a hugely profitable industry. The most important function of whales was not for food, but for refining high-quality smokeless and odorless fuel, soap, machine lubricants, and sperm whale ambergris.

Priceless.

If the Americans give up the Japanese fishing grounds, wouldn't it be a benefit to the Dutch?

The United States and the United States cannot afford to offend the British, so how can we still afford the Dutch?

"I also want to meet this young and promising state speaker. I am very interested in him." Perry said.

"Mr. President, since you agreed to the expedition to Japan, I wonder which fleet you will send to the expedition to Japan? It is best to prepare in advance. I proposed the expedition plan, and I want to personally take charge of the expedition to Japan."

Perry has a quick mind, outstanding debating skills, rich resume and qualifications, and a very high reputation in the navy. He is also Fillmore's most suitable candidate for the expedition.

"You are indeed the best candidate for the expedition to Japan. After the bill for the expedition to Japan is passed by Congress, I will let you succeed Orlick and be responsible for the expedition of the East India Fleet." Fillmore said.

"East India Fleet?" Perry thought for a moment and said.

"The territory on the west coast of the United States is vast enough, and California has also been established as a state. I think it is necessary for the United States to establish a Pacific Fleet to protect its rights and interests in the Pacific. The French just invaded the Kingdom of Hawaii last year.

The Kingdom of Hawaii is a sovereign country recognized by the United States, and its relationship with the United States is also very friendly. If the navy can have a fleet on the west coast, it can change the current situation of our weak influence in the Pacific."

"Our financial situation is very tight and does not support us in doing so. We are currently unable to provide excess funding to the Department of the Navy."

Fillmore shook his head helplessly.

Although the Texas crisis and the California crisis have been resolved, the differences between the North and the South have been temporarily put aside.

However, the United States' finances are still not optimistic. Britain and France have to repay their war debts, Mexico's war reparations have to be repaid, and there are also huge national debts issued during the war.

These debts are weighing on the United States like a heavy mountain, making the United States breathless and making Fillmore unable to do things.

"What a shame."

Perry sighed helplessly and had to face reality.

He is 57 years old this year. Perhaps the United States may become a maritime power like Britain in the future, but he will not see this day.

All he can do now is pave the way for America's future.

"Matthew, if you are responsible for the expedition to Japan in the future, I hope you can resolve this expedition in a peaceful way and obtain the greatest benefits for the United States at the lowest cost." Fillmore turned to look at Perry.

.

"America cannot afford a new war."

Fillmore's mood was very complicated. He himself, and even all Americans, did not understand the country of Japan. It was a very risky move to rush to Japan without understanding Japan.

But for the future of America and for his next election, he had to take risks.

Since the 1840s, driven by the theory of Manifest Destiny, the United States has acquired large areas of territory either through negotiation or war, and has expanded its territory directly to the Pacific coast.

Most of these territories were obtained through war, and the war also ignited the American people's enthusiasm for war and desire for expansion.

President Polk, and later President Zachary Taylor, benefited greatly from the war with Mexico.

President Polk received higher support and more votes, and President Taylor was a hero in the Mexican-American War.

There is no doubt that war and territorial expansion are shortcuts to gaining votes.

The shortcut to the ballot is the Fillmore shortcut.

His term has been less than two years.

So far, Fillmore has not left any great political achievements. His image in the minds of the people is that of a good old man and a peacemaker.

The public prefers to vote for a president who has an iron fist and a tough foreign attitude. Fillmore also wants to be such a president.

Mexico cannot fight anymore. After all, the war has just concluded and the treaty has been signed. If we fight again, the two big brothers, Britain and France, will have objections.

The Kingdom of Hawaii? It is impossible to annex the Kingdom of Hawaii in the short term. The only thing left to make a fuss about is Japan, which faces the west coast of the United States across the Pacific Ocean. It forces Japan to found a country and improves the national self-confidence of the American people.

Fillmore hoped to use force to force the founding of Japan to change his inherent image in the minds of the people, divert the attention between the north and the south, and win more chips for his re-election.

Of course, to force Japan to found a country, we must avoid the use of force as much as possible, because the United States cannot support an expensive foreign war now, let alone a transoceanic war against Japan.

"I understand, Mr. President, I can understand your difficulties. As long as you can leave the founding of Japan to me, I will do my best." Perry puffed up his chest and promised Fillmore.

(End of chapter)