The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-03-11

synopsis OF the report OF the Ii Com
mittee Of Ways and Means on the Hawaiian
Commercial Treaty. The full text Of the report
has now been received, from which We give the
following interesting facts and statements
As pertinent to the consideration Of this ques-
ton, we should not lose sight of q probable di-
version Of the trade Of the islands TO another
direction already a very large proportion of it
Pacific. In 1872 the total export of sugar from
the Hawaiian Islands was II sos tons, of which
4,191 tons were sent 10 British colonies, and OF
the imports OF the same year more than one-half
was from other countries than the United States.
At the present time a great number of British,
American and Hawaiian vessels annually enter
Australian and New Zealand ports with sugar
cargoes. The part of these enter at New Castle
or Sydney, thence take coal freights back to the
islands. New Zealand, Tasmania and Victoria
are striving for a monopoly OF the trade, and
have recently made considerable progress.
The supply of sugar in the Mauritius is rap
idly declining, and a substitute for it is found in
that of the Hawaiian Islands, and the effort now
is to procure q monopoly of it.
The English Government and people are al
ways on the alert TO increase their commercial
advantages. Their vast Pacific possessions, al
ready of incalculable value, require a larger
supply of sugar for consumption than can now
be supplied, hence their interest in procuring q
monopoly of this trade.
1t is not, therefore, unreasonable to apprehend
IGG the OHll6u States may lose q considerable
portion of this trade unless better commercial
relations are made with the islands.
The producing interest of the islands has been
for years in a depressed state, but it is thought
that the treaty will give an impulse to the bust
ness, and although it reduces their revenues from
customs, and imposes upon them direct taxes,
they prefer to try this rather than to seek rela-
tions with any other country. 1t has been said
that the United States will surely have this trade
if they do nothing to encourage it This is an
entire mistake, for production must diminish and
the trade lessen by the impoverished condition of
the people, or they will be compelled to make
commercial relations with some other country.
There is now communication by steamers from
San Francisco to Australia, touching at the ISL
ands, besides vessels calling at the islands for
freight, and frequently freighted with coal, which
affords reasonable freight for return cargo. In
this day of sharp contest for the trade Of the
Pacific, some effort must be made to secure it.
These steamers are subsidized by the Govern
ments of Australia and New Zealand, and it is a
liberal effort to secure the trade of the Pacific.
The United States derives advantages from the
treaty superior to the islands in som respects.
If the exports and imports are equal, as they
probably will be, it would be an equal bargain.
But as the islands have no vessels, the United
States will have the carrying trade, and the sup
plying them with all the variety OF their produce
and manufactures.
But supposing that there were no reciprocity
of commerce in this treaty, that the commercial
advantages were largely against US, and that we
were to lose even $500, 900 annual revenue, vet
there are political reasons of sufficient magnitude
to warrant us to make it. We should consider
it as a question comprehending interests beyond
the mere free exchange of the articles enumerated
in the schedules.
1t involves matters of higher interests of graver
Importance, and greater significance than those
which relate simply to reciprocal advantages
likely to result from a free exchange of commo-
dities.
Private interests should be subordinate to ma
tional interests and commercial security and
advancement.
The geographical position Of the Hawaiian
Islands, their relation to our Pacific coast and to
the countries adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, their
history, area and capabilities of production, the
character of their harbors and their commerce,
the present and future m of the ocean
which surrounds them, the problem as to their
future political status, together with the certainty
that they cannot maintain autonomy or hold
their place as a separate nation and not become
absorbed by some other power; are to be consi-
dered in determining the question as to the policy
of making this treaty. AS early as 1910 the
Importance of these islands, in their geographic
al and political aspect, attracted the attention of
our Government.
Mr.. Webster, when Secretary of State, even
before the acquisition of California, and before
we had any territory whatever bordering upon
the Pacific Ocean, declared that the Government
of the United States would look with displeasure
upon any effort by any other Government to ac-
quire any proponderating influence over the Gov
eminent of the Hawaiian Islands; and he further
said, in relation to an intimation that the French
would probably take possession of the islands,
that " he trusted they would not take possession,
but il! they did they would be dislodged, If it
took the whole power of this Government to do
it, if his advice were TAKEN
subsequently, in view of the importance of
more intimate commercial relations with this
country, MIR. Marcy, while Secretary of State,
negotiated a treaty similar in principle, and he
left Oh record his opinion that he regarded it as
"a measure OF great Importance to both coun-
tries" but from considerations peculiar to that
day, it was not reported by the Committee on
Foreign Affairs to the Senate.
The message, however, was regarded by the
Government of so much Importance that Mr..
Seward stated to the Hawaiian Minister that he
designed to negotiate another treaty, and would
do so when the war was closed adding that the
Governments made no treaties at that time with
out some especial provisions, which, perhaps
would not be well to incorporate in such a treaty.
But during his term of Office such a treaty was
made. But it had the misfortune to be before
the Senate at the time of the San Domingo treaty,
and it suffered from that association. This
treaty, Incorporating the same principle of recip-
rocal trade, has many advantages which the
other treaties had not. 1t embraces almost the
whole import trade of the islands on the free
list, to the exclusion of Great Britain and Ger
many, and other countries, SO far as the discri-
mination of duties is against them.
1t contains the additional provisions that no
export duty or charges shall be imposed in the
Hawaiian Islands, or in the United States, upon
any of the articles proposed to be admitted into
the ports of the United States or the ports of the
Islands free of duty under the first and
second articles of this Convention. 1t is agreed
on the part of his Hawaiian Majesty that, SO
long as the treaty shall remain in force, he will
not lease or otherwise dispose of, or create any
lien upon, any port, harbor, or other territory in
of use therein to any other power, State or
Government, nor make any treaty by which any
other nation shall obtain the same privileges
relative to the admission of any articles free of
duty hereby secured to the United States.
NJ. Couord in q spaaah ba rno1o ~ tha Cono1.