Page "Shimonoseki Campaign" Paragraph 4

Even before tensions escalated in Shimonoseki Strait, foreign diplomats and military experts, notably U. S. Foreign Minister to Japan Robert Pruyn and Captain David McDougal of the U. S. Navy, were aware of the precarious state of affairs in Japan.

A letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, dated June 12, 1863 written by McDougal stated, " General opinion is that the government of Japan is on the eve of revolution, the principal object of which is the expulsion of foreigners.

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