The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-05
HAWAII AT THE GATE.
TIE COMMISSIONERS CALL ON
SECRETARY FOSTER.


ernoon-The Establishment of Pleas
ant Personal Relations About the
Only Outcome of the Conference-A
Statement of Events at Honolulu
Presented, But it Contains Nothing
New.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The annexation
OF Hawaii is regarded tonight by members
of the administration, senators and repre-
sentatives as more probable than at any
hour before or since the news Of the resolu-
tion a week ago. Fuller Information
as to the revolution and as TO the
sentiment OF the people in Honolulu, to-
gether with the declarations of the commits
sioners from the provisional government,
that they want annexation or nothing, taken
with the absence Of protest from England
or any other country, the apparently in
creasing sentiment in the country and the
certainly increasing sentiment in congress
In favor of annexation, has SO affected the
mind OF the President and OF others who
we're planning a protectorste as to make
them lean toward annexation. The
Hawaiian commissioners, who are wide
awake and active men, aud who have
already had private talks with personal
friends in the cabinet and in congress, are
very confident Of success in their attempt
to secure annexation. Yet officially they
have not gotten very fer to-day. In fact
they have officially accomplished nothing,
except to establish pleasant personal rela-
tions with the Secretary of State, to whom
after being personally introduced by Min
lister Mott Smith, they first pre-
sented this morning their credentials
and then this afternoon a written statement
of the occurrences and causes which
brought them reAwhich they say con-
tained nothing not already published at
length in the newspapers. While they are
gratiied by the pleasant reception they had
at the state department with its iRtimaton
that, as they infer, their proposition Will
be favorably considered, they think that
until they have been presented to the
President their recognition by this govern
ment will be officially incomplete and that
their negotiations cannot be said to have
officially begun.
CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS.
Believing, however, that they have the
sympathy OF the administration. as well as
OF congress and the country, they expect TO
have their formal recognition contaminated
on Tuesday or Wednesday, after the Presi-
dent shall have gone over their formal state
ment with the Secretary of State and the
other members of the cabinet, and that the
outcome of their negotiations will be the
satisfaction OF their desires. There is no
doubt that personally they have made
most favorable impression upon Secretary
Foster and every one else whom they have
met, and that their cause has been already
greatly advanced by their presence here.
President Harrison and Secretary Foster,
both cautious men, will not be hasty, how
ever favorably disposed. By waiting until
next Wednesday they viii have the latest
information from Honolulu on which to
proceed. In the meantime informal prl-
Vate conferences will be had between the
representatives Of the administration and
the commissioners uuofioially, es we'll as
between the commissioners and men,
berS of the Senate and the House,
while DR.. Mott Smith, B. F. Dill
bingham and other friends Of the pro-
visional government now in Washington
will be working quietly TO bring about its
desires. All the commissioners have per-
sonal friends among the public men and in
Washington socisty, 50 that they command
O considerable influence. AS there is no
organized opposition TO them, it is not
strange that they think the tide sets so
strongly their way as TO promise success
before they have actually commenced their
labors.
DETAILS OF THE INTERVIEWS.
(By the associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-The first inter
view between Secretary Foster and the Has
wGiiau annexation commissioners was held
in the diplomatic parlor of the state DEPART
ment this morning and lasted half
an hour. There were present Seore-
tary Foster and Solicitor Partridge,
representing the United States; Messrs.
Thurston, Wider, Castle, Marsden
and Carter. the Hawaiian commissioners :
Mr.. Kinney of Salt Lake City, who is pres
enu with them as unofficial adviser, and DR..
Mott Smith, the Hawaiian minister the
latter Of whom made the iutroductions
Mr.. Thurston on behalf of his associates
presented their credentials from President
Dole OF the provincial government, and
supplemented them with brief statement
of events on the island which were the cause
of their visit.
Secretary Foster responded in a few
words of welcome, stating that the reason
for the errand was veil known to the people
of the United States.
After an exchange Of more social greet
ings, in the course Of which the secretary
expressed regret that he was unable to re-
ceive the commission at his own house,
which was closed in expectation Of bis de-
parture for Europe next week, the inter-
view closed with an engagement to meet
again at 3 O'Clock this afternoon at the
same place. The Hawaiian commissioners
returned at once to their hotel, where they
discussed the question OF making a state
ment to the paople of the United States
upon the subject of their mission TO this
country.
THE SECOND INTERVIEW.
The second interview between the annexa-
ton commissioners and the Secretary OF
State, held at the state department. at 3
O'Clock this afternoon, was even shorter
than the conference of this morning and
quite as unproductive in results. There
was some informal talk over She ennexa"
tion proposition aud this was concluded by
an agreement that Secretary Foster should
again meet the commissl loners on tuesday
morning next for an extended conference.
The commissioners, while they are saying
very little on the subject or
the ultimate accomplishment of their
object, intimate that they feel very much
encouraged. The arranRemenU has been
made for their reception by President Har-
rIson, but this will probably take place in
lew days, as recognition Of the new govern
ment by this country removes any hesita-
Uon the President might feel IN giving the
commissioners formal audience.
MINISTER STEVENS DISPATCH.
Secretary Foster made public to-day the
Lull text of the dfsDatCh Announcing the