This has been interpreted as an attempt to tie European powers to the United States in such a way as to hamper any friendly inclination they may have entertained toward the Confederacy (Treat, _Japan and the United States_, 1853-1921, pp.

49-50.
Also Dennet, "Seward's Far Eastern Policy," in _Am.Hist.Rev_., Vol.
XXVIII, No.1.Dennet, however, also regards Seward's overture as in harmony with his determined policy in the Far East.) Like Seward's overture, made a few days before, to Great Britain for a convention to guarantee the independence of San Domingo (F.O., Am., Vol.

763, No.

196, Lyons to Russell, May 12, 1861) the proposal on Japan seems to me to have been an erratic feeling-out of international attitude while in the process of developing a really serious policy--the plunging of America into a foreign war.] [Footnote 211: _U.S.Messages and Documents_, 1861-2, p.88.The exact facts of Lincoln's alteration of Despatch No.

10, though soon known in diplomatic circles, were not published until the appearance in 1890 of Nicolay and Hay's _Lincoln_, where the text of a portion of the original draft, with Lincoln's changes were printed (IV, p.