Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-12-21
PAPERS HELD BACK.

PAPERS HELD BACK.
Two Dispatches Not Transmitted to Con-
Eress on the Hawaiian Muddle-A Mass
of Correspondence Submitted.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-In transmit
ting the Hawaiian correspondence to
the house of representatives, President
Cleveland said: "In compliance with
resolution of the house, / hereby trans
NIT a report with copies of the instruc-
tions given to Mr.. Albert S Willis, the
representa- tive of the United States now
in the Hawaiian islands, and also
the correspondence since March 4,
1889, concerning the relations of
this government to those islands.
In making this communication,
l have withheld only a dispatch
to the former minister to Hawaii, No.
20, under date of October S, 1892, and
dispatch from the present minister, No.
8, under date of November 16, 1898, be-
cause, in my opinion, the publication
of these two papers would be incom-
patible with the public interests"
The dispatch of November 1G, 1898, is
without doubt the detailed information
of the developments which prompted
Minister Willis telegraphic dispatch of
the same date to Secretary Gresham
on which is based the order to suspend
instructions.
Secretary Herbert submits mass of
correspondence from naval officer in
command of United States naval forces
of Hawaii. 1t goes back to July. 1889,
and is brought down to Adm. Irwin's
brief confidential dispatch of December
to Mr.. Herbert, telling him the pro-
visional government had 1,00o men
under arms. November L. 1892, Capt.
Wiltse reports the queens persistent
refusal and obstinacy to appoint a
cabinet may precipitate crisis. Then,
on January IS. Capt. Wiltse makes his
report on the uprising and the landing
of marines ard sailors of the Boston
under his command. He says:
On January l6 there large and enthisi
astic ma meeting composed of representative
men in Honolulu, held in the largest hail in n"
city AT D m. the sam> d.: received
from United States Minister stevens a reQues
to land sailors and marines from The Boston to
protect the United States legation, Sonsultte
and the lives and property of Am rican citi-
zsns At 4:30 January Ii landed the ships
ba attalion under co.rmand of Lieut Com Wiz
liam L. Swinebern. o lc detachment of marines
was placed at the legation and one at the con-
Sulate while he main bJdy OF MA. with two
pieces of artillery. cred in hall in
a central location near thH government build
ings
The text of Minister Stevens letter
to Capt. Wiltse of January 16, 1898,
asking him to land the troops was as
follows:
In view Of the existing critical circum-
st EceS. indicatin inaj 2qu gte legal force
1 request you u land MARINES and sailors from
the ship under YOUR Inald for the pro
tie ton of the United Safes legation and the
United S,a;es consulate and to setu-e the
saiet of American life nd property
Capt. Wiltse then recites that the
provisional government was esta b.
lished, the queen dethroned and the
| new authorities recognized by the
United tates minister Capt. Wiltse
| reports to the secretary of the navy
| under date of February 1 that it is his
intention to keep the United States
naval forces on shore until the provis-
ional government asks their with
| drawaL He says: "There can be no
doubt that the prompt landing of the
| battalion has prevented b1oodshed and
saved life and property" He also
reports that the islands had been
placed under the protection of the
| United States by formal de laration of
| Minister Stevens
| On February II, 1898, Secretary
| Tracey received letter from Secretary
| John Foster stating the latter had tele-
| graphed Minister Stevens commencing
his action, 80 far as it lies within the
scope of standing instructions to the
| legation and the naval commanders in
Hawaiian waters. but disavowing it so
far as it may appear to overstep that
limit by setting the authority of the
United States above that of the Ha-
waiian government"
| On April II Adm. Skerrett, then in
command, reports that he hauled down
| the United States flag from the govern
ment building by order of Mr.. Blount.
He says there were no expressions from
the citizens. On November t6 Secretary
Herbert telegraphed to Adm Skerret,
| not to give aid to either party contend
| ing for the government at Honolulu
Adm. Irwin's reports make up the
balance of the naval correspondence
The admiral confines himself strictly
to naval affairs and at no time men
tions political questions. On the
same date Secretary Tracey transmit
ted from Secretary Foster the follow.
ing to Minister Stevens:
! Your course in recognizing the unopposed d
| facto government appears to have been discree
and 81 accordanc with the facts The rule o
| this vernment has uniformly been to recog
government in full possession OF effective
| power with the assent of the people You vii
| continue to recognise the new government un
| der such conditions
Gompers was reelected president o