The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-20
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
IRON our regular cOrresp0ndsntl

-.,... ., .-, NEw YoRk, March II, 1886.
Interference Of Engiaad and France IN che government
Of the SsndVieh isLaads- High handed measures o.
the British Cons.l-gsnsrai, YIN. Miller, as dspsl-
0psd In The correspondence p..blsAsd in the Poiyxs-
sian, IN September lssl--TAs tone of the lsagaags
used and positions taken, gipe indications Of strong
prejudice and jealousy iOpard, .amsriear resident on
The Island, and .fmeyiean isfasaes IN ths affairs Of
King HsmshaHlsh IY--Ths pindieaiion Of the kings
Foreign minister IN my merit letter. Nth the eonel.-
sion, &c.
The diplomatic correspondence between the
British eonsul'general, VIM. Miller, resident at
Honolulu, Sandwich islands, and the government
OF Hamehaneh Nv, king Of the Sandwich islands,
was voluntarily commenced by the former ON the
18th OF July, 1874. Mr.. Miller being jealous of the
kings ministers, because they were of American
origin, very kindly volunteers TO give the king a
string of good advice and addresses himself directly
to his royal highness Hamehamsh Nv, passing
over the heads Of his ministers. He commences
his letter by telling the king that he is about visit
nag Tahiti, but expects TO return in a few months
begging his serious attention 10 some suggestions
be deigns to offer for his guidance, which he In
tended TO have delivered verbally before his depart
ure, he goes on TO say:
They emanate from an anxious wish TO promote
the welfare OF your majesty, and Of your subjects,
which am iastrueted TO do on all betting oeca.
sions, by my government"
ltappears he was instructed thus TO gratutously
Interfere in the local affairs Of government ac
knowledged by three powers to be independent
Accompanying this note, Is an address to his ma
jesty, dated on the day, directed TO the king
IN person, and entitled Suggestions from her
Britannia msjesty's consu-generul to Hamehameh
~, king Of the Sandwich islands," dated Honolulu,
July 10, 1874.
He commences his "suggestionsn by reminding
the king shat the agreement between the British
government and France, secures the sovereignty OF
these Islands To your majesty and your dynasty. Be-
ing thus admitted TO place among indie pendent SOW
eregns, would respectfully suggest tina, you should
select your ministers and other officers with care,
and well define their separate duties, &C., He
tails TO allude to the government Of the United
States as party to the Independence Of the islands,
whose citizens not only civilized the people, but
prepared them for the liberal government they en-
JOY, and was the FIRST to recognise their ndopend-
ence prior To any agreement the subject between
England and France. Mr.. Miller takes upon him
self TO advise the king also to etiquette and says
al think II would be well that etiquette should be
such as 10 permit the ready to your majesty
IN social manner Of the Representatives Of those
nations who have agreed to respect, (mesning Eng
and and France, your majesty's rights as an in
dependent sovereign, and who would naturally give
you the best advice in any emergency; SUCH for ex-
ample, IS conspiracy among your own officers to
usurp your royal prerogauve, Of which history
affords many examples" IL is certain there are
few examples afforded by history Of such a bold
and hlgh-handed interference as this proceeding
developers.
1t seems, according to certain regulations Of the
king and his ministers, the latter being Americans by
birth, (Which is the great grievance on the part Of
the English consul, all applications made for
ppra ttdt
first made to the minister foreign affairs and that
the object or nature Of the business shall accom-
pany the application for personal interview. The
Hawaiian government claim that under the 4h clause
OF Lord Aberdeen's letter of the l9th Septenb er
lS43 this method OF is fully recognised and
confirmed by the British government. Mr.. Miller,
howrvet, contends that such a regulation ought not
to exist, THAT it is calculated to place your ma
Jesty completely in tho power Of those ministers -
meaning such az might conspire against his pre-
rogative.) at would be departure from the an.
cient customs of your islands, impair the love and
respect your subjects, and leave it in ne power
OF those ministers to embroil you with your best
friends, England and France mean,,) if it suited
their private interest, national bias, caprice, or
whim." As far as suggestions for the local i'm
provement OF the town and island are concerned
they seem well enough; but might as we'll have
been directed to ministers as to the king.
Having forwarded this address, we hear no more
vi w tlll ne nau pro-
ceeded to Tahiti and returned; when, on the 81
August, ls45, he addresses note to Mr.. r. c.
Wyhe, foreign minister, telling him he had received
dispatches from Lord Aberdeen of such nature
as TO render It desirable to have an audience with
the king, and thought the nature Of his business 30
important that the ministers should be present.
Mr.. Wylie replies on the same day, Informing
Mr. Miller that the 4rh article of Lord Aberdeen's
letter of the 18th September made it inexpedien to
grant him personal Interview with the king unless
the nature of his business should be previously init
mated to his Majesty's ministers, and hoped Mr.
Miller would not object to a rule which emanated
from Lord Aberdeen himself
On the 4th, Mr.. Miller replies, sharply denying
the right of ministers to refuse him personal audi
ence with the king, without first intmating the ma
ture Of his business to he and denies that the 4h
article of Lord Aberdeens letter gives them any
such authority, and says, in accordance with ''the
command Of his government, he is Obliged to reer-
ate the request" &c. ..'.
Mr.. Wylie replies, on the same day, that as Mr.
Miller now makes the request by command of his
government, it can be granted without offence to the
United States, (whose consul, on former occasion,
had been denied similar re9uest,) and concludes
by desiring to know Of Mr. Miller If such in reality
is the command of his government
Mr.. Miller's answer is neither polite nor in good
temper. All the reply he thinks it necessary to give
is, THAT l have communication to make to the
king of these islands from her Majesty's govern
ment." He wishes the king to be Informed of the
circumstance, and Of his wish for an audience, cor
that you will refuse to do So any further intiation
Of what you and your colleagues will allow or will
not allow being extraneous, and foreign to the point
in question"
Mr.. WyGe, on the same day, 9Th August, in re-
ply, grants the request on the ground that it is
message from her Britannia Majesty's government,
commanded to be delivered personally and appoints
the next day, noon, for the desired audience.
The audience was duly held, and Consul General
Miller delivered very remarkable address to the
king. "
He says he approaches his Majesty by command
Of his government, and commences his message by
saying that her Britannia Majesty's government APP
proved Of the suggestions and memoranda forward
ed to his Majesty the year before on the eve Of his
leaving for Tahiti and shat the Earl Of Aberdeen
trusts that those wel.judged suggestions' "would
meet with that attention from you (the king) which
they deserve"
2dIy. He protests against the code Of etiquette
promulgated in July, 1914, rejecting the act or
clause which gives "a fixed and permanent prefer
ence to the United States over Great Britain, upon
the plea Of prior recognition of the Sandwich isl