William H. Seward to William Henry Seward, April 24, 1868
Mr. George F. Seward to Mr. William II. Seward.
Sir: My dispatch No. 281, herewith, offers information touching the General Sherman case, which has heretofore engaged your attention. It is a subject for congratulation that it is likely to be satisfactorily explained and any necessity for hostile action averted. It is also satisfactory, if true, that the Corean government is anxious to enter into treaties with the western powers. The empire is independent, although it sends complimentary tribute to Pekin. The population is said to be about six millions, or one-third that of Japan. The climate is mild for the latitude. The people are described as peaceful and industrious. In my opinion there is no sufficient object attainable to render it advisable to use force, or even the show of force, to procure a commercial treaty with the Coreans. It may be considered, however, that the interests of our shipping require that at least a treaty providing for the kind treatment of shipwrecked people should be entered into. But if the Coreans are prepared to go to the extent of opening up their country to our merchants, this opportunity is not one that should be lost.
I respectfully propose, therefore, in case the proposed embassy be not concluded on, and it shall still seem desirable, on the receipt of your instructions, that authority be given me to request of Admiral Rowan the use of two vessels of war, (one like the Shenandoah or Iroquois, the other smaller,) to employ one or more interpreters, and to proceed to the Corea in order to ask an official explanation of the Sherman affair, and to negotiate, if possible, a treaty of amity and of commerce similar to those now existing with China and Japan, or such other lesser treaty as may be expedient and attainable without the exercise or show of force.
If unsuccessful—and I am inclined to believe that the exercise of a degree of discretion and patience would insure a more or less complete success—the undertaking could do us no harm.