The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-01
ASSOCIATED PRESS.

What the Honolulu Correspondents Found
Out About the Situation.
copyright, 1899, by the Associated press.]
HONOLULU, Nov. 16.-The main
change in the political situation since
the Australia sailed has been one of in
creased strain and greater business de-
preston. Since his formal call to pre-
sent his credentials Minister Willis has
not communicated officially with the
government.
The most significant happening which
has taken place occurred last Monday,
when a committee of the American
league, the lately organized auxiliary of
the Annexation club, called on the new
minister. After welcoming MI. Willis,
the committee stated that the members
Of the league earnestly desired that the
Hawaiian islands should become part of
the United States. and with that object
in view the organization would support
the present Provisional government of
Hawaii, and III all honorable ways aid
in accomplishing annexation. The ad-
dress also contained an offer Of aid, if,
at any time, the minister saw fit to CON-
mand them.
Pledged to Secrecy.
Minister Willis answer has not yet
leaked out here, as the committee is
pledged to secrecy, but the Associated
Press is n bled after diligent inquiry
and careful comparison of the versions
Of the minister's remarks as remembered
by three members of the committee, to
give the following nearly, if not quite.
verbatim report of the reply:
After welcoming the committee and
speaking in pleasant terms Of his visit to
Hawaii, Minister Willis said, Il am an
ardent American. l would like to SEQ
the Stars and Stripes waving, not only
over Hawaii, but over all the islands of
the Pacific ocean or any other territory
which would be beneficial to the United
States. l have my instructions which L
cannot divulge. You will understand
this. But this much ] can say, that the
policy Of the United States
Is Already Formulated
regarding these islands, and that nothing
which can be said or done, either here
or there. can avail anything now. | do
not come here rs did Mr.. BlOunt. | come
as an executive officer. ! come to act.
When the proper time arrives, i shall
act. l am sorry | cannot tell you when
or how. l wish you to understand. how
ever, that knowing The policy OF the
United States, l couls net have accepted
the position Of e%xecptivs officer had it
beer in conflict with sne pTinciples |
hciI. Americans hsre will have moth
Ing 20 regrect. While performing my
duae. IN carrying ont the United States
policy l shall have no need of aid from
you or other resident Americans. How
ever, l wish to state positively that any
outside interference will not 9 tolerated
by ;Ls United States"
Consider the Remarks Significant.
The provisional government considers
Minister Willis remarks rs significant,
and from Other information obtained it
is the general belief among Americans
that a United States protectorate will be
shortly established over the provisional
government, with the understanding
that a stable form Of government be or
ganized Hereunder within d limited
period.
Some are of the opinion that action
will be taken between the sailing of the
Alameda Thursday and the arrival of
the Monowai on the 23rd inst. This
opinion has been expressed on board the
United States steamer Philadelphia
within the last few DAYS.