The record-union., 1893-11-20
Special to the REconp-uN1ox.

Speclal 10 Lne hECORD-ONION.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The President,
Secretary Gresham and Postmaster-G Gen.
eral Bissell were in consultation at the
White House until l:30 o'clock this
morning, but it is not known that the
Hawaiian situation was the theme of dis
cussion. The official adviees received by
the Department of State from Minister
Willis to-day will not be given out for
publication now, but it was ascertained
that they were of a character entirely sat-
isfactory to the Secretary of State and not
at all surprising to him. While he re-
fuses to discuss the contents or character
of his advices from Minister Willis, it can
be said that they are regarded by him as
indicating the correctness of the position
taken by the Administration, which he
believes Will be ultimately accepted as
the only attitude it is possible for this
Government to adopt
1t has been the chief fear of the friends
of the Provisional Government of Hawaii
in this country, in it's ignorance of the
public sentiment here and the first s hook
OF threatened action by the United States.
that it would yield its authority. The
fact is, however. for some time past the
Provisional Government has abandoned
all hope of favorable action by the pres
ent Administration toward annexation,
and have been considering means to put
itself on permanent footing. 1t may be
that the public and press have come to a
wrong conclusion as TO the extent Min
lister Willis instructions. They sup
posed that Secretary Gresham's letter
declaring what he thought ought to be
done and President Cleveland's declara-
ton that he agreed with the Secretary's
opinions meant that they had determined
accordingly. Yet some people believe
the publication must have been intended
as an appeal to public opinion for infor
nation as TO the course to pursue, it be-
ing considered that the chances of action
by Minister Willis to restore the Queen
would be much lessened after the news
OF the reception accorded Secretary
Gresham's letter had been read i'll the
islands.
The first news of Secretary Gresham's
letter ought to reach Honolulu by the
steamer which left Vancouver on Thurs
day or the one that left San Francisco on
but last Sunday or Monday
chartered steamer left San Francisco for
Honolulu, having on board newspaper
men, and doubtless also some communi-
cation from Minister Thurston to his
Government. This chartered steamer
SlOulQ arrive aJ honolulu LO-Qay or To-
morrow. This would be after the next
steamer to arrive at San Francisco sailed
from Honolulu.
A prominent Democratic Senator, a
member of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, who declined to permit the use of
his name, said tonight: at seems very
clear to me that Willis has encountered a
state of affairs which he had not been led
to expect The inference is justified that
Minister Willis discovered that the feel
ing of the intelligent people of the islands
was favorable to the present Government,
and he weakened in the determination to
reseat the Queen. If. indeed, the Dole
administration displayed determination
to maintain its position by force OF arms,
there is nothing for Willis to do but to
change his plans and ask further instruc-
tions. To have persisted in landing
marines for the purpose of forcing a
change of government would have been
an act of war pure and simple, and no
sane man can believe President Cleveland
ever contemplated such move as that"
The same Senator expressed his view
that the islands ought to be annexed to
the United States, and said the move
ment could be made simple and easy by
constituting them part of the State of
California.