 Charles Le Gendre, the French-born American military advisor to the Japanese government, as well as Gustave Emile Boissonade, legal advisor, urged that Japan take the matter into its own hands.Two Americans, James Wasson, a Union Army veteran, and Douglas Cassel, a Union Navy veteran who was also a Lieutenant Commander during the 1871 US expedition to Korea, were employed by the Japanese as foreign advisors.Given that both men were Ohio Natives, former Ohio Congressman and peace advocate John Bingham publicly protested their involvement, fearing they would violate American neutrality.