The morning call., 1892-08-04
JOHNSTON ISLAND.
The News Of Its AnneyatiOn officially
Confirmed.
GREAT BRITiN'S AGGRESSIVE ACTION
The american Interests InVOlVed-What Seine O
Our Naval 0ffcerS Think Of The
Matter.

The steamer Oceanic, which arrived from
Hong Kong via Honolulu yesterday,
brought definite information OF the anneXa-
lion Of Johnston Island by II. B. NJ. 5.
Champion on behalf Of Great Britain. the
Cha5pion had returned to Honolulu, and
was living in the harbor when the Oceanic
left. As the island has been occupied by
Americans for upward of 80 years and up
ward Of 100000 has been invested there by
American citizens the question OF title on
the one hand and COMPENSATION on the
other Is likely to be actively debated IN
court of international law.
Among the American claimants is Cap
tain Martin Roberts of this city, who W hen
interviewed Yesterday expressed no surprise
at the step taken, holding that the action of
GIeat Britain was natural outgrowth of
the apathy of the United States Govern
ment on foreign affairs and the progressive
ideas Of English statesmen in regard to
coalng stations aud strategic points in
connection with naval squadrons. Captain
Roberts is of the opinion that even if the
British Government has annexed the island,
the American citizens who have invested
funds there viii be duly compensated. but
he holds that the United States Govern
ment by permitting the seizure-ot when II
had plenty OF nOtice-haS deprived Itself OF
cOGliN2
more valuable than Pearl HarbOr, the ces-
sion of which is being negotiated between
the Hawaiian Government and the State
Department at Washington. lie regards
the event as the inevitable result OF the IL
trnsion of picayune politicians into national
politics. and The growing tendency 10 put
mere ward-rOuDders. b0oders and elap-trap
dPmagOgues into the positions once occupied
by men Ike Webster. Calhoun and Gay.
CAPTAIN Roberts describes John sion Island
as presenting no such attractions to naval
officers as are layishly afforded in the
Hawaiian group; no balls, supper parties
and gay female society. Hence possibly
the apathy Of the naval authorities on the
matter. Johnston Island Is only rock,
90 feet above the water, half a mile wide
and mile and half long, surrounded by a
coral reef % feet high.
The whole matter Of the ownership OF the
island has laid IN allegiance since state
document emhOdflDg the opinion OF Attor-
ney-General jeremiah :. Black was brought
10 The notice OF Congress on July y, 1888. The
learned Pennsylvania discussed the issues
involved very fully on the following basis:
On January s 1853, the schooner Palestine
set sail from san Francisco with one VIII
liam u. Parker Oh board, IN search OF
guanO deposits in Polynesia.
Tie Palestine reached Johnston Island in
the following March and the American flag
was then planted and possession taken in
tie name Of the United States. TINS fact
crosses on the island stating that the annex
alton was for the owners and chaTterers Of
tie schooner The latter stayed seven days
and took aW ay 1900 tons Of guauo, arriving
at San Francisco April % 1853
AttOrney-GeneTai Black, In the document
referred To, went on to show that The act of
august IS, 1856, required that before an
island wheTeon guanO Is discovered shall be
deemed a. appeTtalning TO the United States
possession shall be actually taken of Ii, and
halt n
avail.
Il was in this spirit that the Pacific Guauo
Company was organized, and the Palestine
returned TO the islands in july p. 1858. 1t
was then found that the American flags and
crosses had been removed and the inScriD-
tons destroyed. Subsequently Ii was ascer-
tanned that this act had been committed by
Samuel {. Allen and others on board the
halama, vessel sailing under the Hawaiian
Tag, which had been hOiSted on the Island
j r0yai Hawaiian proclamation on July q,
1888, under the authority Of kamahameha
IN, confirmed the act and declared the
island to be part OF the Hawaiian domain.
Attorney General Black concluded that
As from the time OF the arrival Of the
PaleStiu till the date of the consideration
OF tile matter by Congress, the American
occupation and the taking possession had
been complete, and as moreover American
capital had been invested for the erection Of
buildings and the general improvement OF
the island, the title OF this country could not
be questioned.
This is the view which the State Depart
ment seems likely to take, holding that the
occupation by the Pacific Guano Company.
an American corporation, has been con-
tnuous.
None Of the naval officers and others
questioned Cd the subject last night seemed
willing TO commit themselves to a positive
opinion On matter which had been sprung
on them so suddenly and concerning which
so little information is obtainable. They
pointed out, however. that this is an age oil
fast cruisers and coaling stations, and that
Oh great oceans the establishment OF such
stations in good strategic positions has be-
come a national necessity. Outside of such
considerations Johnston Island is of little
value, and they did not deem 1t probable
that the matter would produce any serious
friction between the two Governments.