The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-16
WILL LOOK INTO AFFAIRS
MIR. Blount Going to Hawaii as Con-
iidential Agent or This
Government.
To Investigate the circumstances
of the Recent Revolution
There.
Upon His Report wili Depend Future
Action Looking to Annexation-Mi-
nority Members OF Committees.

WASHINGTON, March 15.---Ex- Representa-
tive Blount. OF Georgia. left Washington
last night for San Francisco, accompanied
by Ellis Mills. confidential stenoerapher of
the state department.. He il, it is conf
IDENTITY asserted, bound for Honolulu on
secret mission. appointment to which re-
CURED no confirmation by the senate. The
selection of Blount for the mission indi-
Hawaii should be annexed to the United
States. but has not decided to oppose il.
Blount will make a very thorough investi-
cation OF the situation, and the presidents
future action on the subject will probably
be governed by the report. AS chairman
Of the foreign affairs committee when the
matter first came before the public.
Blount took very conservative posi-
ton. refusing to commit himself with
out further information. More than
year before the overthrow of the
queen delegation from the Hawaii legis-
lature came to this country without public
announcement seeking some indication
from this country of what support the rev.
olutionary party might rely on if they
should overthrow the old government and
establish provisional government. az has
been dono. Their ultimate object. as they
then declared it, was to secure annexa
tion to this country, as they did not hope
for success in the permanent establishment
of a now government. Blount was among
tho few persons with whom they talked and
he then refused to commit himself to any
such plan. There is no doubt that since
the overthrow Of the queen he had some
suspicion that this government may have
encouraged the revolution and might possi-
bly, be accused of having q part in the es-
tablishment OF a new government Of the
islands, with which we were asked to treat.
The question of how the overthrow Of the
government came about, and whether the
provisional government actually repre-
sented popular sentiment will it is under
stood, be thoroughly investigated. First
OF all the fact will be established that this
governments, pending the ratification Of the
treaty giving right to do so. will not in
terfere in any way with the affairs of the
islands, except. if need be to defend them
from foreign encroaohment, the idea being
that q government claiming to represents
the people of the islands must be strong
enough to maintain itself if we are to treat
with it. The probability is that we will do
nothing to maintain the provisional gov
ernment against any other government of
the people of Hawaii themselves. that
mlxut Oo ol G5eA VI Oe ehLuDllsUeu, Dut IL ~
is found the provisional government is
really the chosen government OF the islands
and not dependent on the support of the
United States fo- existence, the proposition
for annexation may be fayorably regarded.
and an amendment treaty may be sent to
senate at the next session.
However. apart from other considera-
tions the desirability of annexing the
islanda will be investigated as business
proposition. 1t is said the administration
early received information which was
deemed reliable that the overthrow of
Queen Lilioukalani and the establishment
OF a provisional government WAS the result
OF plan formulated by the sugar produo-
ing elements of tho island, and which was
furthered In San Francisco. Upon re-
ceiving information that the withdrawal of
the treaty was determined on cipher dis
patches went out last night from both
state and navy departmental for Honolulu,
which will 60 forward on the steamer Aus
tralia from SaE Francisco to- day. What
these dispatches contain none of the Off
cials in either department will say.