Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-04-23
REPORT


TO THE MOBILES AND REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, IN LEG
IsLATIvE COUNCIL ASSEMBLED,
ftj hae APRIL 1853.
By command of the King, and under the
S4th article of the New Constitution granted
| by His Majesty on the 14th of June last,
lay before you an account of His Majesty e
Foreign Relations, subsequent to my last
report read to the Legislature, on the l4th
Of April last. .t', .......r.- ..-...asf
1t pleased the King in His gracious speech
to the last Legislature, to inform them that
His relations with all foreign nations, ex-
cepting only France, continued of the most
friendly character-that he had not heard
from the Presideat Of the French Republic,
on the important matters referred to Him,
but that His Majesty's Government contin-
ued to protect French citizens and their in.
Iterests, as they did those Of the most favored
nation.
Among the most important matters so re-
ferred by the King. were the claims for in
demnity, which you will find printed at page
l65 Of the Appendix to my report to the
Legislature of 1851. From the reference to
the Prince President of France were ex-
|cepted, the claims of the Governor Of Oahu,
because Admiral de Tromelin himself in a
courteous note addressed to the Governor,
under the date of the 3Oth of Aug. ls49 ex-
pressed his regret for the injuries done to
the Governors private property, by the
French forces. and promised that they would
be properly represented to the Government
of France-and that of Mr.. William Ladd,
and other citizens of the United States,
claiming S254 ,263 for damages against the
Kings Government, arising consequentiaIly
from With article of the Treaty of La
place, of the 18th of July 1889. because that
claim had become a matter of Diplomatic
discussion with the Commissioner Of the
United States, and hingng as it did, and
still does, upon the fair, just, and equitable
Interpretation Of the said article, carefully
considered in connection with all the other
articles, it was held to be unsafe to proceed
till after the whole question, with its fresh
complications, had been reviewed by the
Government of France.
You are not to understand me as convey
ing the idea that if that claim should prove
TO be just one, the United States Govern
ment would enforce it upon France. The
Commissioner Of the United States in his
despatch of Sd of March 1851 (Which you
will find printed on page l54 of the appen-
dix to my report of 1851 distinctly stated
that .Messrs. Ladd g. Co. can make no de-
ma,.ds on the French Government for riolaiion
Of Treaty, and that they only looked to the
Ha,caiian Government under ,rhich they
haze Tired, one Of the parties TO the
Treaty.. What / mean is that, under
the possible enforcement, Gf possible
it could be considered) of that claim by the
United States Government on that of the
King, it was desirable that so far as the
claim was based upon the Treaty with
France above referred to, its foundation
should be well examined, in concert with
France herself.
Under that sense Of duty to the King and
to all other parties concerned, on the 9TH Of
November 1851, addressed to Monsieur
Perrin, at Paris, the despatch of which an
mex a copy, marked No. ], conveying to him
for submission to the Government OF France,
copy of the u States Commissioners offi
cial communication to me of the 3lst Octo-
Der 1851, which also annex, marked No. 2.
You will find my acknowledgement of that
despatch, bearing date 18th November 1851
printed at page 81 of my report to the leg
isiature Of 1852 concluded, assuring the
Commissioner as follows: After knowing
the views of the French Government in re-
Iation to the With article of the Treaty OF
Laplace, shall have the honor to reply, in
detail. to your dispatches of the I'd OF
March. and 3lst Of October"
Although M. Perrin has not yet placed me
in a position to fulfil that promise to the
Commissioner Of the United States. yet, l
repeat what said in my report of lS52,-
I" II would be doing an injustice to the gen.
erous and chivalrOus character OF the
French, nation, to suppose that they will per-
sist in keeping upon the King, burden from
which all other nations having Treaties with
His Majesty, have relieved him. Nj. Perrin
cannot fail TO make known that the King con-
scented to the reduction ofthe duty on French
wines beyond the letter and spirit OF the Win
article Of the Treaty with France, under
distinct understanding that 1t would be
s4ronqly recommended to France to make a
new Treaty with this Government omlt.ing
that and the Ill articles; he cannot fail to
make known that, in the view Of this Gov
|ernment they had scrupulously executed all
their previous engagements with French Oh
ficers made IN the name of France, without
receiving any equivalent whatever from
France: - 1t cannot be possible that the
French fia,son, in its justice, can disregard
those weighty considerations in His Majesty's
favor, especially after His reference to the
President himself" s9sse- s.iea
What the sentiments ofthe King 8 Gov
ernment have been, and are towards France
will clearly appear from my dispatches OF the
|3O,h April and lst May 1852 to H. B. NJ. 3
Consul General and the Commissioner of
the United States, requesting them to en-
|deayor to procure the good Offices OF their
respective Governments with France to IN
dnc. ber 10 accent of a new Treaty with this