The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-06-07

the native, and even threatening tie independ-
enee OF the islands The government being des-
potic, the king or chief who gave Il the iorelgner,
for services, 1T Others as = favor, lands,
no intention Of making the donee anything
than r tenant at viii, who could be ejected
his title voidcl at his pleasure. whilst the re-
regarded his title as q fee simple, without
any right of the chief 10 disposses him at what ne
bestowed upon him.
The chiefs were also improvident, running IN
debt 10 the foreigner, whilst the latter would trust
them, TO be paid perhaps III sandal-wOCd at some
time not sufficiently definite. and the foreigner
selling NJ a figure proportioned 10 the risk and
the time. Foreigners having cause OF grievance
Tor unpaid debts. or what they deemed trespass
upon their rights in the matter of titles. or deem
ing themselves aggrieved in other matters, would
apply 10 their consuls for redress against the gov
ernment, considering all such grievances proper
matters. The consul, prompted by
the complainant, would call for the interposition
of the first man-of-war visiting the islands of the
nation which he represented. 1t was also matter
of complaint that there was no tribunal to settle
questions arising between foreigners of a peeuni-
airy or other nature. These things proved 10 the
government q continual source Of annoyance and
vexation. Capt. Jones of the Peacock in 1876
secured for his cOuntrymen the admission by the
chiefs of large debts, due from them 10 the former,
with the promise of payment. His course was
eminently pacific. and his visit is remembered
with pleasure by the authorities. On behalf OF
the United States he formed with them n treaty,
the first with any civilized country. Lord Edward
Russell of Her British Majesty's ship Action, in
1886, was the first 10 form q treaty with the ISL
and authorities on behalf of Great Britain. The
grievances presented by him at this time were of
in~iringements upon the titles of lands held by
gift by British subjects. In 1899 difficulties oc-
CURED with the French regarding French Roman
Catholic missionaries. Capt Laplace of the frig-
ate ATtiHleSe required the assent of the govern
i. L. III -a.---A
and the payment to him of twenty thousand dol
lars ms a pledge for it's observance, to which terms
it was compelled to yield. In 1912 the French
ship Em6uScdde, Capt. Mallet, came TO Honolulu,
and many grievances were presented for redress,
but the Capt. was assured that ministers had gone
to France, and England, and the United States,
and would treat directly with those governments
upon any pending difficulties. Early in 1913
Lord George Paulet, of the British frigate Carys-
fort, arrived at Honolulu, and presented large &C
counts of British subjects for settlement. and also
accounts between British subjects and other for
eigners requiring adjudication and adjustment.
The demands were so large and SO urgent that the
government, unable to meet them, were obliged
TO make a temporary cesslOn of the islands TO
Great Britain. The Hawaiian colors were struck
and the British raised in their place Feb. 25th,
1913.
The government during the temporary cession
was lodged in three commissioners, two appointed
by Lord Paulet and one by the king. Not work
ing in harmony, Hon. 6. p. Judd, the kings COM
missioner, entered protest against certain acts OF
his colleagues as contrary to the terms of cession
and resigned. In July Rear-Admiral Thomas,
commanding Her British Majesty's squadron in
the Pacific, arrived at Honolulu, and after pre-
liminary negotiations restored the Hawaiian flag
on the 3lst day Of July, l843.
In the meantime the Hawaiian embassy had
procured from the United States in December,
1912, the acknowledgment of Hawaiian independ-
enee. Their progress in this direction in France
and England was arrested by the news of the ces-
sion, but upon the restoration Of the flag negoti-
atoms proceeded, and on the 28th day Of Novem-
Der, 1913, the following joint agreement was duly
signed by the proper authorities representing the
British and French governmental:
"Her Majesty, the Queen of the United King
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Maj
esty the King Of the French, taking into consid-
Grafton the existence in the Sandwich Islands of n
Government capable of providing for the regula-
rity of its relations with foreign nations, have
thought it right to engage reciprocally to consider
the Sandwich Islands as an Independent State,
and never to take possession, neither directly nor
under the title. Of PrOtectOrate, nor under any
other form, of any part of the territory of which
they are composed.
THE undersigned, Her N~Iajesty's Principal
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and the
Ambassador Extraordinary of His Majesty the
King of the French, at the Court of London. being
furnished with the necessary powers, hereby de-
clare in consequence, that their said M~aiesties
take reciprocally that engagement.
"ln witness whereof the undersigned have
signed the present declaration, and have affixed
thereto the Seal of their Arms.
Done in duplicate, at London. the 18th day
of November, in the year of our Lord 1913"
'S's"'a' 81, 4UGAIRE. l. L. $ S.
In 1916 the French Admiral Hamelin returned
to the Hawaiian Government the twenty thousand
dollars taken away by Laplace in 1889. He also
brought Special Commissioner Perrin, who upon
the part OF France negotiated a new treaty with
the Hawaiian Government. Also brought Consul
Dillon. In 1919 the French Admiral de TromelIn
visited Honolulu with n squadron and asked re-
dress of the government for sundry alleged griev-
ances In violation of the treaty of 1916. His
demands were deemed inadmissible and as a result
he landed a force and took possession of the fort,
spiked the guns, (the soldiers doing considerable
damage TO the buildings of the fOrt,) stationed a
guard around the Custom House and the govern
ment offices, and finally after three days possess
sion embarked his men and left, taking with him
the Kings yacht, Il Baltimore clipper OF about
40 to 100 tons, which was never returned. A
new mission to France and Great Britain, con-
sisting of DR.. Judd and the two young Princes.
Alexander Liholiho, afterwards Kamehameha ".
and Lot Kamehameha, afterwards Kamehameha
V, was despatched but It's efforts to get redress
from the French Government for its depredations
were without success. Mr.. Dillon was replaced
by Mr.. Perrin as Commissioner and Consul, and
in 1852 he brought forward a list of grievances
which he pressed automatically with great per-
and which was only interrupted (s the
writer believes) by the assurance that if his de-
mands were persisted in the United States flag
would be raised and the islands would become
a protectorate of that country. Upon the request
of the government this assurance was given by
the Hon. Luther Severance, Commissioner from
the United States. Since this time there have
been no demonstrations from other States hostile
to the independence of the islands, and the laws
have generally been well administered.
The islands have doubtless been an object of
desire in the past to France and perhaps to Great
Britain but it is hardly to be supposed that the
British Government have ever sought the sover-