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Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 15 January 1853, Page 10

United States and Japan.—The Morning Chronicle has the following interesting paragraph with respect to the relations between the United States and Japan :—" The Staats Courant (Dutch Paper), publishes an important communication from the Colonial Department, relative to the past and present relations of Holland with Japan. It appears from this official document that the reports of the intervention of Holland to prevent the departure of the American expedition, and the abandonment of the project by the United States, in consequence of which the authorities of Java had permitted their country to be entered in order to arrange the question, is unfounded. All that the government of Holland proposed to do, was to address to that of Japan an amicable despatch, with the view of preparing a favourable reception for Commodore Perry, and to point out the advantages that would result to Japan from the opening of its ports to foreign commerce, as the Emperor of China had done in 1842. It is not improbable that the negotiation may be crowned with success, and that Commodore Perry, on arriving within sight of the coast, will find little difficulty in the negotiations he is directly sent to bring about with the imperial court. At the same time it is right to declare that the Netherlands government has not ceased since 1844 to indu6e the imperial government of Japan to relax its system of exclusion."