The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-29
A DIPLOMATIC QUESTION.
A Chilly Reception Awaiting the Hawaii
an REPRESENTATIVE

an representative.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-It was
clearly apparent this morning that the
publication Of Miaister Thurston's re-
ply to Commissioner Bloupt's report
created very disagreesole impression
at the Department Of State. None of
the officials care to discuss the matter
with q view to publication of their
views, but privately it Is iptimated
that the Minister has taken an extra.
ordinary course, that he has violated
all the proprieties Of diplomatic inter-
course, aud that in any other country
than the United States he would be
Immediately furnished with bis pass
ports, which ts the diplomatic method
of tntimating to a minister that he is
persona non grata and had better take
his departure.
But Mr.. Thurston has made 1t diff
cult for such q course to be pursued, by,
very shrewdly disclaiming In the be-
ginning Of his article any intention of
publishing an opinion on the interna-
tionsl questions at issue, and declaring
that he proposed con6ning himself to a
statement Of facts concerning himself
In reply to Mr.. Blount's personal at
tacks upon him. Although the minis.
ter under this cover, manages to dis
cuss and traverse nearly every sub
stantlal statement made by Blount;
his disclaimer obscures very much any
violation by him Of diplomatic propri-
eties-if, indeed, his statement can be
80 regarded-and would make 1t diff
cult for the Department of State to deal
with him, as it might other wise be dis
posed to do.
But, as q matter Of fact, the impres.
sion is that the Department has no in.
tention of adopting heroic measures in
Minister Thurston's case. Neverthe.
less 1t may be anticipated that he will
meet with rather chilly reception up.
on his next visit to the department Of
State.
All the State Department officials
stood mute when there was brought to
their attention the published: report
that Queen Lilioukalandi had been re-
stored to the Hawaiian throne yester.
day. In view Of the intimations that
have been dropped, to the effect that
radical feature of Minister Wishes's
instructions would develop soon after
and not before, the sailing last Thurs.
day from Honolulu Of the Alameda,
which Is due at San Francisco tomor.
row, and that stirring events were ex-
pected to occur about that time, it can
not be said that the report Is entirely
discredited. here. But If the ex.
treme step has been taken, at the
time indicated, the American
public will not be aware of it by any
newslikely to come by means Of the
Alameda, tomorrow, and owing to the
gap Of twenty days In the mail service
caused by the wreck of the steamer
Mowers, the public must wait many
days for that news unless something
should come to hand by way of China,
through some outward bound steamer
touching at Honolulu. :
Tburston's dramatic recital Of the
revolution Of 1887 recalls the fact that
when the news of that event was re-
ceived, the British minister Cat that
time Sir Lionel Sackvllle Wesr) asked
the United States to join England,
France and Gern any In an information
al guarantee Of the neutrality of the
Sand wich or Hawaiian Islands (similsr
to the Samoan agreement.) The Unit
ed States did not adopt the suggestion
Nothing In affirmation or cOntrad c.
tion Of the rumor that yesterday was
th>- fixed date for the restoration of the
Queen can Le obtained from official
sources.