Question

What implicit threat is contained in Commodore Perry’s letter? He could bring an army to Japan. He could tell the president that Japan was not cooperative. He could return with a larger force and attack Japan. He could attack Japan with his four ships.

Answer 1

He could return with a larger force and attack Japan

Commodore Matthew Perry had been sent to negotiate an agreement that would guarantee the safety of shipwrecked sailors and open Japan’s ports to commerce. By promising to return for an answer the following year and urging the Japanese to assent to the agreement, he implicitly implied that they could be back to attack if Japan failed to agree

Answer 2

He could return with a larger force and attack Japan.