With the return of the Democratic party to power the treaty of annexation was withdrawn from the Senate by President Cleveland. In the next few years American commercial interests in the Orient developed rapidly. This, together with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, indicated the imperative necessity of annexation which was finally effected in July, 1898.
Japan, the second centre of American activities, was developed largely through the influence of a few traders and statesmen who saw the necessity for prompt action if American prestige was to be maintained in the Hast. In 1832, Edmund Roberts was sent by President Jackson to investigate commercial possibilities in the Indian Ocean. He was instructed to obtain information respecting Japan, the means of beginning communication with it, and the value of its trade with the Dutch and Chinese. In 1846, Commodore James Biddle was sent to open Japan to American trade and failed. A second expedition sent out five years later under Commodore Matthew C. Perry was successful. The Townsend Harris treaty of commerce and navigation, drawn up soon after this, 1858, in an effort to forestall European action, indicated the future attitude of the United States toward trade in the Far East.[1]
As early as 1853, if not earlier, the United States was represented by a commercial agent at Apia in the Samoan islands. The following year a consul was provided. In 1872, Commander Richard W. Meade entered Into an agreement with Chief Maunga of the Bay of Pagopago in the island of Tutuila which pro-
- ↑ Compilation of Treaties in Force (Washington, 1899), pp. 327–332.
