European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 10, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                When sleep on a memorable Day in 1853, men from Perry s Black ships went ashore to open an isolated land to Western civilization. A by John Roderick a staff writer our steam vessels disturb our r peaceful sleep like four cups of Fine Tea " wrote a japanese poet in the fevered hours after the arrival off Japan in july 1853, of the Black ships of  Matthew Perry. The ships he referred to were the War vessels powered by the revolutionary new steam engine Susquehanna Saratoga Mississippi and Plymouth. Headed by the Florid faced ambitious Perry the Squadron s Mission was a historic one to Shock the japanese islands out of More than two centuries of som Nolence and open them to the turbulent winds of the Industrial West. Employing firmness and dignity mixed with friendliness Perry succeeded where others before him had  year later he had concluded a treaty Between the two nations which marked the end of Japan s isolation. Two years later America s first envoy to Japan the educator Diplomat towns end Harris opened his country s first consulate general in this quiet fishing Village at the tip of the Izu Peninsula South of Tokyo. Perry s use of gunboat diplomacy revealed the weakness of the ruling Mil itary shogunate government. It was a Shock from which it never re  ii years after the Black ships had sailed Over the horizon into japanese Waters a bloody rebellion drove the last Shogun from the moated Castle in Edo the modern Day Tokyo. A youth later known to history As the emperor Meiji ascended the throne. With him Japan embarked on an Aston Ishing career of modernization which moved it into the front ranks of the Powers which had such a Short time before awakened her from her  Advance was matched by military prowess. A half Century after a the real Commodore Perry Perry Japan s naval might reduced the Imperial Tsa Rist Navy to a shambles in the Battle of Tsushima straight Les than 100 years after the Black ships japanese air Navy and ground Force conquered virtually All of Asia. Because Perry s Landing led straight tothe Meiji restoration whose Centen Nial is being celebrated this year Shimoda s Black ship festival in mid May was Given a special character. In addition to the usual Parade . And japanese naval forces Crew members of Japan based . Naval units and of visiting War vessels re enacted Perry s Landing Complete with bands Epa lets and beards. At the same time the japanese stage their own recreation of the signing of the treaty of Shimoda in a Temple com Pound whose chief tourist attraction is an Annex largely devoted to a display of sex symbols. It has Long been believed that what brought Perry to japanese shores was an american wish to open Japan to .trade. The fact was that having accomplished its purpose the americans left Japan for years to the commercial exploitation of other nations. The . Objective was much More humdrum. It revolved partly around the Pursuit of the North Pacific whale. In the-mid-19th Century the wooden ships and Iron men which set out from new England needed Friendly Harbor for provisions and water. And the steam warships which Perry had introduced to the Navy had to have convenient Coaling stations. Both these necessities were denied them by the rigid isolationist policy of the Tokugawa shoguns who had kept for eign influence away from japanese shores. The relics of Perry s visit and Harris diplomatic sojourn in Shimoda still re main a Mecca for japanese More than for americans. The old consulate a Buddhist Temple includes a Ceme Tery in which Are buried sailors and officers of Perry s squadrons who die during the visit. An american exhibition marking Perry s Landing showed some of the gifts he brought with him a miniature steam train from the emperor of the United states a Telegraph instrument another Bric a Brac of the Industrial age. � � employing firmness find dignify Perry succeeded where others. Failed. Saturday August 10, 1968 Apap. And How a Jopa a bin. . Nov men enact i. I. Observance of me Cen in Nial. The stars and stripes pa9 "