Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-01
LATE HAW WAIIANNEWS
Secretary Gresham's Instructions to
Mr.. Blount.
POSITION OF THIS COUNTRY
The Policy Of the Administration Stated
Correspondent Nordhof Charged With
Libeling the Government - Ex-Minister
Stevens on the Situation.
INSTRUCTIONS TO MIR. BLOUNT.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MIR. BLOUNT.
Line of Conduct Followed by the specia
Commissioner to Hawaii.
On May Is Commissioner Blount gave to the
public in the newspapers the instructions under
which he has been acting. The document il
full is as follows:
HONOLULU, H. l., May 15, 1898.
To the People of the Hawaiian Islands:
deem it proper now to publish the following
instructions under which 1 am now acting:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
| WASHINGTON. March ii, 1898.
| The Hon. James H. Blount:
Sir-The situation created in the Hawaiir
| Islands by the recent deposition of Queen Lili-
uokalani and the erection Of a provisional gov
ernment demands the fullest consideration Of
the President and in order to obtain most
| trustworthy information on this subject as
well as for the discharge Of other duties herein
specified, he has decided to dispatch you to
the Hawaiian Islands as a special commissioner,
| In which capacity you will herewith receive q
commission and also a letter whereby the Presi-
dent accredits you to the president Of the ex-
| ecutive and advisory councils Of the Hawaiian
| Islands. The comprehensive delicate and con-
| fdential character of your mission can now be
only briefly outlined, the details Of its execu-
tion being necessarily left in q measure to your
1
tigate and fully report to the President all the
| facts you can learn respecting the condition OF
| affairs in the Hawaiian Islands. the causes OF
the revolution by which the queens govern
ment was overthrown, the sentiment Of the
people toward existing authority and in geu-
eral all that can fully enlighten the President
touching the subject Of your mission.
MR.. BLouNr's POWERS.
To enable you to fulfill the charge. your au-
| fbnri<v IN ox
this government to the existing or other gov.
ernment Of the islands and the protection Of
| our citizens therein Is paramount and in you
| alone, acting In cooperation with the comman.
der of the naval forces, 10 vested full discretion
and power to determine when such forces
| should be landed or withdrawn. You are, how
ever, authorized to avail yourself Of such aid
and information as you may desire from the
| present minister of the United States at Homo
! luls-Mr. John L. Stevens-who will continue
| until further notice to perform the usual func-
| tions attaching to his Office not Inconsistent
| with the powers intrusted to you. An instruc-
ton will be sent to Mr.. Stevens, directing him
| to facilitate your presentation to the head OF
the government on your arrival and to render
| You all needed assistance.
The withdrawal from the Senate Of the re-
| Gently signed treaty Of annexation for re-exam-
| ination by the President leaves its subject mat
| ter in abeyance and you are not charged with
IN respect tneretO. IL may De well,
however, for You to dispel any possible misap-
| prehension which its withdrawal may have ex-
| cited touching the entire friendliness Of the
| President and the government OF the United
States toward the people OF the Hawaiian
| Islands or tho earnest solicitude here felt for
| their welfare, tranquility and progress
Historical precedents and the general course
| Of the United States authorize the employment
of its armed force in foreign territory for the
| security Of the lives and property Of American
citizens and for the suppression of the lawless
and tumultuous acts threatening them and the
| powers conferred to that end upon the repre-
sentatives of the United States are both nsces-
| sary and proper, subject always to the exercise
| of sound discretion in their application. In
| the judgment Of the President your authority,
| as well as that Of the commander Of the naval
forces in Hawaiian waters, should be and il
limited in the use Of physical force for such
measures as are necessary to protect the per-
| sons and property of our citizens, and while
abstaining from any manner of interference,
TO use your friendly offices in the interest Of
peaceful settlement Of the troubles within the
limits Of sound discretion.
WHEN TROOPS MAY BE LANDED.
Should it be necessary to land an armed force
| upon Hawaiian territory on occasions Of popu-
lar disturbance when the local authority may
be unable to give adequate protection to the
| life and property of citizens of the United
States the assent of such authority should first
| be obtained if it can be done without prejudice
to the interest involved. Your power in this
| regard should not however. be claimed to the
| exclusion of similar measures by the repre-
| sentatives Of other powers for the protection OF
the lives and property of their citizens or sub
jects residing in the islands.
While the United States claim no right to in
terfere in the political or domestic affairs or in
| the internal conflicts of the Hawaiian Islands
otherwise than herein az stated, or for the pur-
pose OF maintaining any treaty or other rights
they possess, the government will adhere to ite
consistent and established policy in relation to
them, and it will not acquiesce in domestic in
| reference by other powers
The foregoing general exposition of the
| Presidents views will indicate the safe courses
within which your action should be shaped,
and mark the limits of your discretion in call
ing upon the naval commander for co-opera-
ton. The United States revenue cutter Rush
| Is under orders to await you at San Francisco
| and convey you to Honolulu. stenographic
clerk will be detailed to accompany you and re-
main subject to your orders.
1t is expected that you will use all con-
venient dispatch for the fulfllment of your
mission, as il is the Presidents desire to hayo
the result before him at the earliest pos
sible day. Besides the connected report you
| are expected to furnish YOU will from time to
| time. as occasion may offer. correspond
with the Secretary of State. communicating
Information or soliciting special instructions on
such points as you may deem necessary In
case Of urgency You may telegraph, either in
| plain text or in the cipher of the Navy De-
partment, through the inland office of the
admiral commanding, which may be sent to
Mr.. W. A. Cooper. United States dispatch
agent at San Francisco, to be transmitted
theuce.
Reposing the amplest confidence in your
ability and zeal for the realization of the trust
confided in you,I am. sir, your Obedient servant,
W. O., GRESHAM.
While shall refrain from all interference
between conflicting forces, of whatever nation
aiity, for supremacy. will protect American
citi zens not participating in such conflict
Yours respectfully,
JAMES II. BLoUNT,
Special Commissioner OF the United States
of America.
WHAT SECRETARY GRESHAM SAYS.
Secretary Gresham said today that he had
nothing to say in regard to the situation in
Hawaii, and that he knew nothing on the sub
ject that has not already been published in the
newspapers.
He declined to affirm or DENY the accuracy
OF extracts from instructions to Minister
Bount published this morning. but ad-
mitted that he had been advised
of the appointment of MIR. L. A.
Ihnrston AS Hawaiian minister to the
United States, to succeed Mr. Mott Smith. Mr..
ThurstOn was Mt the head of the rom mi ssion