The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-08-03
A NDIX .
EXHIBIT A.
EXHIBIT A.
FROM APPENDIX TO REPORT OF MINISTER Of
FOREIGN RELATIONS 70 LEGISLATIVE ASSEM-
gRT woe 1871
Honolulu, March 2Sth, 1856.
OF 1857.

HONOLULU, udrc NOn 1000. ri
SIR: Her Britannia Majestys Government having received a copy
Sandwich Islands and the United States, by which each party engages
to admit into its territories, duty free, certain articles the produce of
the territories of the other, [ have been instructed by the Earl of
Clarendon, Her MaeStyS Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to adj
dress myself to the Hawaiian Government and to urge on them the
following considerations, with a view to obtain for British commerce
the same advantages which have been conceded to the United States
by the aforementioned Convention:
The Nv Article of the Treaty between Great Britain and the Sand
witch Islands of the 10th July, 1851, stipuates that no other or higher
duties shall be charged on the importation into the Sandwich Islands of
any article the growth, produce o manufacture of the British domin-
ions than are or shall be payable on the like articles the growth, pro-
duce o manufacture of any other foreign country. If this were the
only stipulation in the Treaty bearing upon the subject, the claim of
Great Britain to participate in the advantages conceded to the United
States by the Convention in question would be clear; but as the next
favor which either party may grant o a third country shall be extended
to the other party on corresponding terns-that Is, either gratuitousy
or for an equivalent compensation, as the case may be; and as the ad-
vantages conceded to the United States by the Sandwich Islands are
expressly stated TO be given in consideration OF, and as an equivalent
for, certain reciprocal concessions on the part of the United States,
Great Britain cannot, as a matter of right, claim the same advantages
for her trade under the strict letter of the Treaty of 1851.
Unless, however, the Convention between the Sandwich Islands and
the United States was concluded with a unfriendEy feeling towards
Great Britain, which Her Maestys Government have no reason to
suppose, it is probable that the Government of the Sandwich Islands
of the terms of Article " of the Treaty of 1851 and of the general
hbeaity of the British commercial system. To such a participation
Great Britain is in equity entitled, not only because it is not her prac.
te to cut down the effect of an Article such as Article w of the
Treaty of 1851 by making special tariff bargains with foreign countries,
but because she had already some years ago admitted duty free eleven
out of the nineteen articles the produce of the Sandwich Islands
enumerated in Article [ of the Convention with the United States,
which the United States have now only consented TO admit on the same
terms, and the remaining eight the duties levied, except in the instance
of sugar, are almost nominal.
The amount of trade between Great Britain and the Sandwich
Islands at the present time is 81 small that the question, so far as
Great Britain is concerned, is one more of principle than practical
exertion would be used to obtain the recognition of the principle Tor
which Her Majestys Government contend.