The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-07-10
Report OF the Hon. II. A. p. Carter
NUuANUI VONE -05 AoI0'
To HTs Ex. Henry A. PIERCE,


SIR.-In response to your Exceency's request
for brief resume Of my late mission to Europe.
beg leave TO report that received with courtesy
and respect by the Governments of Her Britannia
Majesty and Of His Imperial and Royal Majesty the
Emperor OF Germany and Kirg OF Prussia. to whom
| presented the credentials with which was en-
trusted by His Majesty the King.
With the former Government it was hoped that
should be enabled TO conclude arrangement on
the basis of Protocol, signed here by Her Ma
je-ty's representative-Major Wodehouse-and His
Majesty's Minister for Foreign Affairs, which should
harmonic some differences growing out of the inter
probation Of the Anglo Hawaiian Treaty of 1851 !
and further If il seemed practicable to enter into
scheme of East Indian i'm migration. was instruct
ed to negotiate, if possible, Convention with Her
Msjesty's Government defining the conditions of
such immigration from the East Indian possession of
Her Majesty the Queen Of Great Britain and EN-
press of India.
In regard to the first object, although I had the
valued assistance of Major Wodeh"use. it found
upon discussing the Protocol and Declarations based
thereon that with the best desires on both sides
to attain the object by such means any Declaration
which could be accepted by the British Government
in view of their relations with ether countries could
be signed by myself without exceeding the limits
of my instructions and infringing the constitutional
rights Of the Legislative Assembly.
l had, however, the pleasure Of receiving the as
suranees Of Lord Derby, Her Msjesty's Principal
Sec etary Of State for Foreign Affairs that my ex
plantations of the peculiar circumstances of the
mercial position of the HAWAIIAN Islands led Her
MAjestys Government as an especial mark of friend
ship aud good will, to propose mode of settlement,
which he submitted to This proposition involy
ed Il modification Of tariff laws which could only
be made with the sanction OF the Legislative Assem-
bly,, and obliged point out that objection to
it. Owing to these limitations on both sides, it be-
came obvious that we could not meet the wishes of
the British Government without Legislative action.
On the 9Th OF November had an interview with
narhv in yvhi aft Mt NJ ri
reasons which had led the Hawaiian Government to
adopt the Interpretation Of the Treaty Of 1851 which
it holds aud explaining the constitutional and other
objections to the proposed form Of Declarations.
suggested that much Of Article ". of the Treaty
of 1851, formed subject of difference between
the two Governments be declared imperative by
mutual consent, thus saving as much as we could Of
q Treaty, for which assured his Lordship had Il
traditional regard and had never knowingly violated
His Lordship expressed bmself satisfied with the
intentions of the Hawaiian Government saying that
Her Males US Government did not accuse the Ha-
waian Government Of any wiiful neglect of its
Treaty Obligations, and promising to give my
suggestions careful consideration.
/ subsequently had conferences with Lord Tenter-
deu and other gentlemen of the Foreign Office. in
the hope that form of Declaration mi ht be
arrived at which would meet our mutual wishes, but
with the result
Lord Tenterdeu in private" note to myself
dated December 2Sth, stated that my proposition,
jesty's Government regretted that they could moi
entertain them they obliged to consider them
not only regarded their relations with the Ha.
waan Islands, but also their bearing upon the rela
tons and engagements of Great Britain with other
foreign states. Lord Tenterden cOurteousy assured
me that it only general grounds therefore
that they unable TO accept them. He again
repeated Lord Derby's assurances Of the friendly
sentiments of Her Majesty's Government toward:
Hawaii and that they fully accepted the statements
7 haAt do in I'd ~
the United States, and stating that Her Majesty
Government bad wish that the friendly relation:
now subsisting between the two nations should be
affected by that treaty.
Lord Tenterden further stated that apart from
the Treaty, there two subjects with regard tC
Her Majesty's Government might have ground fol
complaint. First, the maintenance Of the recent
augmentation of duties upon British goods anC
secondly, the unnecessary denuncatiOn of Articles
and VI. of the Treaty Of 1851.
With regard TO the second matter, pointed out Il
Lord Tenterden that the withdrawal of the notice
termination of those articles could not be accom-
plished. except by mutual arrangement, Withou
prejudging the notice as regarded Article w., aDC
that had already. on November 9Th proposed suct
mutual action to Lord Derby without eciting any
response. This matter you inform me has been N
ranged upon the assurance of Major WodehOase that
it should not affect the notice regarding Article ~
With regard to the first matter it depends partial
ly upon the action of the Legislative Assembly
1t clearly beyond the scnpe of my powers to
make any promises regarding it,.
One of the happy results Of my mission tn,
aeeep tance by the British Government of expla
natIons regarding the Reciprocity Treaty with th'
United States, and the assurance of that GOveTnmeD
of its desire that the operation of that Treaty SHOULD
not in any way affect our friendly relations.
am quite convinced that so long our legisla
tion and the execution of laws shall continue L
be just and equitable towards that great power thes
liz aiuf,i mad and
lation which be shown be for the best nteres
of this country will with unfriendly inter
probation
Through my mission, clearer understanding ha,
been arrived at with the British Government upOr
all points, and it shows every disposition to respec
our views, aud there has been di minuton Of tina
friendship and good will, which it my constan
desire to promote Lord Salisbury, at present He
Msjestys Principal Secretary OF State for Foreigr
Affairs. in a despatch as late as the 4th of May .
the present year, while expressing his regret at tn
termination of NV mission, informs me that Her Ma
jesty's Government fully share in my hope that th
termination Of any part of the Treaty of 1851 MAJ
in any way interfere with the relations of friend
ship which happily subsists between Grea
Britain and the Hawaiian Islands.
This despatch closed my official intercourse witt
the Government of Her Britannia Majesty.
On my arrival in Berlin. on the Sthday Of Januar
of the present year, 1 communicated with the Min
lister of State for Foreign Affairs. and was in du
meut, by His Imperial and Royal Majesty the Em
perot of Germany and King of Prussia, by Her Im
perial Majesty the Empress, by their Imperial an
Royal Highuesses the Crown Prince and Princess
and all the members Of the Royal Family; afte
which my official intercourse with the Imperial Gov
eminent began.
NY negotiations with that Government were re
tarded by its reuctances to mako a Commercia
Treaty without providing for the fullest equality il
respect to import duties They, however, fnall
Acknowledged that the peculiar circumstances of GU
position justified them in doing, and articl
was framed by which it was agreed that the specia
advantages granted TO the Government of the Unite
States in consideration of equivalent advantage
shoGd not in any case be invoked in favor of Gel
many.
Certain considerations, which have explained t
your Exeellency led to desire that the articles 0
projected Treaty framed should not take the forl
of definite Treaty until fully approved by His Ma
jesty's Government, and, consequently, Protocs
was framed, OF which they formed part providin
for formal Treaty of which they should be th
basis
This Protocol was duly signed by the Germa
Ple0potentiaries and myself on the 23rd day of Apr
last passed.
By command of His Majesty. had the honor
rendering TO His Imperial and Royal Majesty th
Grnad Cross of the Royal Order of Knmehameha [
which be gracously received. and consented allo
HIS Imperial and Rcyal Highness the Crown Primo
| 10 receive the was thee informed by Hi
| Exceency the Minister of State for Foreign Affair
tbat it Hi Imperial Majesty's inten ion to sen
the Grand Cross of the First Glass of the Royi
| Order OF the Red Eagle to His Majesty as a mark
! his high regard and esteem.
| In conclusion, L beg to give expression TO N
! grateful sense o the many courtesies which, as