Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1855-05-26

IJud0, al page of hts report, as Minister O
inc Interior, for 1915, states the amour
claimed of the British government, as S32,
lOl 81 cents.
The Earl OF Aberdeen replied on the I5tF
November, 1913, that under The circumstan
ces stated by his LOrdship, the British gov.
Iernment could not consider themselves in an,
way responsible for those damages and loss
es, although they greatly regretted them.
Mr.. Richards in long and well argued
despatch of the 2Sth February, 1913, endea.
vOred TO alter that view of his Lordship. anC
formally presented the claim for damages
The Earl of Aberdeen replied on the l3t!
March, 1914, persisling in his opinion thai
the British government were not liable, chiefly
on the ground that all the damages and loss
es had arisen from the voluntary act of the
late King, in ceding his Islands professionally
tha; there was no occasion for the King to
take so extreme step, and adding-''It 1t is
not without some regret that her Maiesty's
government have found that the very liberal
ity and moderation with which they have act
ed, should, at the momert, when they least
expected it, have subjected them To The claim
Tor compensation now put forward by the
Sandwich Island Commissioners"
Although the opinion of a very high legal
authority in London in favor Of the Justice o!
the claim was obtained, Mr.. Richards did
not press it further; and the late King never
Expressed any wish that it should be revived.
On the 3lst July, 1913. the late King wrote
TO the Queen of Great Britain, the King of
the French and the President Of the United
States, the letter, of which append copy,
marked No. 81, announcing ,,the restoration
nf he Islands nv 4 Tg,,n,o- 'HIo
letter fnr the Queen uf Great Britain was
presented by Mr.. HaaTiho on the sIh day of
November, 1913, and on the l3lh, the Earl
of Aberdeen, in the name Of the British gov
er lment made known their approval of the
act of Admir- al Thomas. done on his own re-
Sp"nsibIlrty, and their hope that that approval
would he received as a fresh and convincing
proof of the friendly sentiments with which
her Majesty government were animated to-
wards this kingdom.
The Blush government not approving OF
the course thai Mr.. Charlton had pun sued.
and especially. of an offensive and menacine
letter which he took upon himself To address
To the late King, on the 26ih September, 1912;
and besides, being deSiruu- of being repre-
sented bv an officer of higher rank, at the
court of King whose sovoieignt, they had
determined TO recognize, appointed tor ihrI
purpose, William Miller, Esq with the rank
al Consul General for the Hawaiian Islands,
and other isTan Is in the Pacific, and provided
with power to restore The Islands, (ihe re>Io-
ration by Admiral Thuma$ not being then
known and TO ioim a regular convention
with The King.
SEVENTH Permit IRE to call your attention
to the convention, consisting of ten articles,
which Mr. Richards and Mr. HaaIlio offered
to the government of Belgium. on the 22d
March. ISf4 In offering to make cnnven
ton with Belgium, whrh neither then nor
now has any trade with the Islands, they, OF
course, had higher object in view than the
regulations of mere commercial details. They
had early discovered that the inf of hIS
Majesty King Leopold was great in Europe;
they had found that he was kindly disposed
to exert that influence IN favor OF hts late
Majesty; and, they very naturally and Loyalty,
sought to secure TO their master so good and
powerful friend. | add, marked No. 81,
copy of COUNT Gnhlet's letter to them, of the
26th March, IS44, which, of itself, shews
that, in their object Of gaining King Leopold's
recognition of the full sovereignty of this
kingdom, they had been emlnently successful
EIGHTH | request your attention to the
aS offered by Consul General
Miller, and accepted by the Kna and kutiHq
.Nui on the I2R day of February, lS44, of
which | add copy marked No 35 On com
pairing il with the convention made by Capt.
Laplace, on the 18th July, 1899, (see page
3g4 Of nv report TO the legislature of IS5l) It
will be- fonnd, that The British government,
modelled their convention with slight VarI-
atI0n of words on that offered by the French
Captain Nevertheless il was signed and rat
fled by the King, as you VIII nbsrrve, nv his
OF the 18th February, 1874, Oi
which, [ annex copy, marked No. 80, de-
cIaring null and nf no effect, thereafter, the
previous conventions of 10th November,
1885. and OF 3ISt July, lS43. | also append,
marked No. 81. copinus extracts from let
ter datrd 18th February, IS44, TO the Earl Of
Aberdeen, signed by Mr.. Judd, which well
deserves your consideration, from the p lnc'-
ples Of a uniformity aud ,r simplicity IN tIea-
ties with foreign powers, which Il recommends,
and from the example II affords of how io get
lid of onerous treaties, with great and chris
ian mowers. The convention of Eaplace OF
The I1h July. 1899, and that with Great
Britain of the I2th February, 1S44, So Tar as
they deserve the name of treaties, were what
PUBLIcIsTs call Real Treaties, that Is TO say, /
hey had no limit as to time But did either
France or Great Britain cling To these instru- !
nents, with the maIevoIent feeling Of holding
he King bound, for ever, by their shaekles:
No, by no means. In proof Of wha, /, here
affirm, refer you to the copy, mai FED No.
B. which | append, of the Earl of Aber-
ieen's despatch of Ist July, 1874. to ID. b.
N's Consul General, which shews, how fs-
,orabIy his Lordship had received the aiore,
.aid communications signed by Mr.. Judd, and
,o,y xiiI;nq the British government were, 10 |