Top 24 Quotes by Townsend Harris

The expense of a war could be paid in time; but the expense of opium, when once the habit is formed, will only increase with time.

Any nation that refuses to hold intercourse with other nations must expect to be excluded from this family.

The United States have no possessions in the east and do not desire to have any, as other countries do.

If you make a treaty first with the United States and settle the matter of the opium trade, England cannot change this, though she should desire to do so.

Two things are desired in order that intercourse may be had: First, that a minister or agent be allowed to reside at the capital. Second, that commerce between different countries be freely allowed.

In case of war, a treaty would have to be made at the end of the war.

As the treaty made with the United States was the first treaty entered into by your country with other countries, therefore the President regards Japan with peculiar friendliness.

It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also.

We were sent to this country by the President, who desires to promote the welfare of Japan, and are quite different from the ambassadors of other countries.

In time of war steamships and improved arms are the most important things.