The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-08-05
FERTILE BRAINS rHEsE
REPORTERS riK tHE FATE on
HAWAII
A Taleyrandish Scheme 10 Play Three
Great Powers Against Bach
Othtf Here

II Is a safe rule IN Hawaiian matters
Notwithstanding the fact that the local
press generally knows what Is doing
here, to go away from home TO get the
sensational news. Intelligence of the
bloodthirsly murder society FIRST reach.
cd US via the American press; and every
fortnight something has come from the
coast which puts an entirely new and
unsupported light upon our home
affairs. That the correspondents have
not lost their cunning and that island
scoops that are scoops are yet liable to
crop out 1000 and 5000 miles away
will appear in the text Of letters which
some of the local writers impaired to
the Press Associations via the steam
ship City of New York.
What is the story' You couldn't
guess.
Well, it's simply this. Should the
United States decline to accept these
Islands as a gift, the Hawaiian Govern
ment might not be able to find sec
ond customer in England, owing to her
treaty of non-interference made fifty
years ago with France. What then ?
Why offer them to Russia Russia,
you sec, has wanted Pearl Harbor for
long time. In fact De Giers said as
much to the Hawaiian embassy several
years ago. The Car has been deferred
from negotiating for it, however, by his
desire to yield point to the policy Of
the United States; but it is figured out
by the astute correspondents that
Russia's acceptance Of Pearl Harbor,
and these Islands with it, after America
had refused to take them, could not be
regarded by Uncle Sam as an un.
friendly act What he had thrown
away indiferently he could not abuse
anybody for picking up.
Now comes piece Of fine cores
pondential diplomacy. The Honolulu
newsmongers have intimated that
England would go wild at the idea of
her great enemy of the north getting
an island station right at the angle be-
tween her Canadian, Australian and
Hongkong routes of commerce and
naval operation. The lion would roar
indeed. At once, it is agreed, Eng
land would, under her agreement with
France, step in to 'preserve our indie
pendence' in spite of ourselves. But
France, being Russia's ally, would
rescind the treaty, leaving Mr.. Glad
stone without further excuse for his
action than could be found in the gen
eral policy of the British Empire. 1t is,
of course, believed that England would
not split hairs, but would demand the
cession of this group to her, whereat-
and here is some more fine scheming
America would get alarmed and
jealous, and begin a negotiation to an
mex.
In that case, say the correspondents,
Hawaii could stand by and take her
choice She could go to Russia under
a treaty guaranteeing fair play and
home rule, or under a proteCtorate
which would let the Gar have Pearl
Harbor; or she could go to England as
colony; or further she could join the
United States on any terms pleasing to
her. Either way would make her game.
The newsmongers further say that
Russia would jump at the chance to
get in here, with or without a Neu-
mann PIebiScitnm, and that if she
came she would spend unnumbered
roubles in putting the group in state
of defense. More than this, she would
accommodate Spreckels with all the
moujiks he could use in his cane fields
Big scheme, isn't it What will the
correspondents originate next?