The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-10-05
REPLY OF THE CABINET.
A Full Explanation of the Government
Position. in Regard to the Treaty
Question,

The Cabinet, delivered TO the native
committee Friday
MEssRs. A. Rosa, J. L. KAULUKoU, J. F.
CoLBURN AND OTHERS:
GENTLEMEN: AS a Committee repre-
senting a public meeting of Hawaiian
citizens you have asked from His Ma
iesty's Ministers certain information
their action in regard to the
relations between this country and the
United States of America.
Feeling that it is the right of the peo-
pie to know the policy of the Admins
tration, the Ministers take pleasure in
informing you that they have for long
time had under consideration the prac-
ticability of extending our treaty rela
tons with the United States so as to en-
nance and increase both the commercial
and political benefits which the two
countries now enjoy by reason of exist
ing treaties.
As the result of nearly a years con-
sideration of this subject by the Cabinet,
our Minister Resident at Washington
has been instructed to ascertain whether
the Government of the United States is
willing to entertain propositions looking
to the end above indicated, and, should
he find such willingness to exist, he is
instructed to open negotiations with that
Government for the conclusion of a
Treaty which will effect the purposes
hereunder indicated.
This statement of the present status OF
the subject renders it unnecessary to say
that no proposition has been made OF
accepted by the United States and that
no Treaty has been submitted to His
Majesty for signature.
The reasons which have moved the
Cabinet to adopt the course above indi-
Gated are numerous, and while an eX'
haustive enumeration and discussion Of
such reasons would exceed the scope o.
the present reply, summary of the
more salient among them is as follows
1. The history of our staple products
during the past thirteen years has de.
monstrated how essential to our com
mercial prosperity are the advantages
secured to us by the existing Treaty.
The development of our export trade
from 50, PAL ,041 in 1876 to $11 ,707 1913 in
1888, during the life of that Treaty, with
its attendant advantages to all our citi
zens and residents, are witnesses of its
stimulating effect upon our industries
and commerce, and it's benefcient infu
ence upon our national welfare, and are
fresh illustrations of the principle that
no great material advantage can be en-
joyed by any class dependent upon labor
without the entire community partakine
of such benefits.
By the terms of the existing Recipro
city Treaty with the United States, notice
of termination within one year there
after may be given in five years from
now.
The interval between 1883 and 1887
during which time the Treaty was snb
ject to termination upon years notice
illustrated the evil effects to our com
mercial well-being, of Experimentation
year to year, for the continuance of Oul
treaty relations, upon the uncertain
humor of the American Congress.
The uncertainty involved has an un
settling effect upon capital, and is detri
mental to the making of large permanent
investments, many of which now con
templated requiring heavy preliminary
expenses.
With only the certainty of five years
continuance of the Treaty; the expert
ence of the recent past in mind, and the
strenuous efforts will be made by on
opponents in the United States, to ter
inmate the Treaty at the end of the fiv,
years, it is the part of wisdom to prepar
in the day of prosperity for the days tina
are to follow.
2. At the last session of the Unitec
States Congress there was developed ;
strong movement looking to the reduc
ton of sugar duties and the payment Q
bounties upon sugar of American pro
ductiOn.
The effect of this would be to discrim
mate against Hawaiian sugars in favo
of American, and materially reduce to u
the value of the existing Treaty withou
any corresponding benefit.
We believe it to be the duty of tn,
Hawaiian Government to endeavor t,
secure the placing of our products upor
the same basis as American products il
respect of bounties and privileges.
3. The existing Treaty is limited in it
extent. A large number of American
products still pay duties in the Islands
while the products admitted by tn,
Treaty free of duty into the ports of tn,
United States are practically limited t.
sugar, rice, bananas, hides and tallow.
There are many articles which Nigh
be pro6tably produced here, upon lands
which are not available for products nov
admitted under the Treaty. were there &
market for them.
If mutual agreement can be arrived
at whereby the products of either coun
try can be admitted free into the other
great stimulus will be given to new
industries in the Islands, resulting in al
increase Of exports and of domestic anC
foreign shipping; the bringing into cult
walton and increasing in value of many
lands now waste; the consequent i'm
provement in all departments of bust
ness, and corresponding benefit to the
United States by the increase in our Inn
ports to meet the necessary increased
consumption by our people.
We believe that the additional value
which each country would receive would
many times over compensate them fol
the loss of the duties now levied.
4. The Hawaiian Islands are now the
only group in the Pacific which is who'll,
self-governing. Our situation is pecu
liar. We have no military or nava
strength of our own to maintain ou
autonomy against the pettiest nava
power; and we have to-day no guaran
tee of our continued independence, al
against any foreign nation, other thar
the sufferance or the mutual jealousies
of the great powers.
Within the last few years the policy o.
annexation has prevailed among the
European nations interested in Poly
nesia, which has resulted in the rapiG
absorption of nearly all the Pacific Isl