DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
437 
 
that he knew this sentiment to be favored by the Emperor, on the ground both

of humanity and of national policy. At his request: I gave him a letter to
our 
minister in Japan, embodying his friendly expression in the letter. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
AMOS PERRY, 
United States Consul. 
Hon. WILLIAM 11. SEWARD, 
Secretary of State, Vashington, D. C. 
Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward. 
No. 24.]                              UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 
Tunis, December 11, 1863. 
SIR: I have the honor to forward to your excellency by this mail a printed

copy of a convention recently concluded between the British government and

that of the Bey of Tunis. This treaty appears on its face and is claimed
by its 
friends to be a mutual concession of rights and privileges, tending to do
away 
with indirect legal processes, at present much resorted to by foreigners;
to dimin- 
ish political differences between Tunisians and foreigners ; and to give
aid and 
countenance to the cause of civilization and constitutional government. By
this 
treaty the Bey permits British subjects to hold real estate in their own
name, on 
the condition that their real estate be subjected to the laws of the country
in re- 
gard to registration and taxation. 
The provisions of this treaty are at the present time the subject of much
ani- 
mated and bitter discussion, in which British and Tunisian authorities appear

prominent on one side, and French and Italian on the other side. The principal

arguments urged in favor of this convention are, that its provisions are
just and 
reasonable, promoting the interests of both parties; that its guarantees
of good 
faith and fair dealing on the part of the Moorish government are ample, the
con- 
sul alone having the power to execute the decrees and decisions of the local
au- 
thorities; and, finally, that this convention provides the only way in which
foreign- 
ers can become bona fide real estate holders, identifying themselves with
the in- 
terests of the country. The main argument urged against the convention is,
that 
the right to tax and control the property of foreigners cannot be safely
given up 
to Mussulmen. The natives of this country are represented to be yet too rude
and 
barbarous for such a trust and responsibility. Ignorance, superstition, and
fanati- 
cism are represented to be so prevalent that this convention, however good
its 
object, must prove a serious evil, retarding instead of promoting the cause
of 
civilization. But there are persons of high official standing in Tunis who
at- 
tribute to the English government still othIer motives and considerations.
This 
convention is represented to be a political contrivance designed to gain
a con- 
trolling influence, or, at least, to prevent France from controlling or getting
pos- 
session of this regency. England has here some ten thousand Maltese subjects,

many of whom hold real estate indirectly, and, with the signing of this treaty,
soon 
become bona fide real estate holders, thus giving England a direct interest
in the 
soil and institutions of Tunis, which no other nation at present possesses.

I The consuls general of Spain and Austria are understood to favor the princi-

ples embodied in this treaty, and to give encouragement of the speedy adoption

of the same by their respective governments. The general policy of England

and America, in this country, has for many years been supposed to be the
same, 
on which account the British consul general makes a special appeal for our

countenance and encouragement. As yet I have taken no decided stand for or

against the treaty, thinking it more prudent to await some unbiased f expression

from my government. I may say that I do not see how any harm could possi-