The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-18
Minister Willis Had Not Informed
the Provisional Government
OF THE INTENDED RESTORATION
At the Time the Steamship Australia
Left Honolulu six Days Ago-It Is
Believed That He Found tho Govern
ment Prepared to Make Resistance.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1s.-The an-
xiously awaited steamship. Australia,
due at this port from Honolulu, arrived
today. Long before she appeared
of the heads tugs went out
In search Of her, bearing newspaper cor
respondents, and when they reached the
vessel a great surprise awaited them. As
they clambered up the side Of the steamer
they learned that the provisional gov
ernmept was still in possession and that
Minister willis, for some reason, hadanot
made known President Cleyeland's
lolicy to President Dole.
The Queen had not been restored and
De great wrong" was still unredressed
2,hen the steamship sailed.
A long cipher despatch was at once put
on the wire addressed to Gresham, State
Department, and it is presumably Minis
ter Willis excuse for not putting in
force President Cleveands orders.
1t is believed here that the reason for
the delay In carrying out the program of
restoration is because Minister Willis
found that in some way the provisional
government had forestalled such action
and was prepared to resist any attempted
overthrow.
Ready for Action.
In this connection a despatch from
Washington says: There appears now
TO he little reason to doubt that the adj
ministration intends to accomplish its
purpose by whatever means are found
TO be necessary. The Hawaiian le CATION
here so understands the case, and so do
others wko are in a position to know the
intentions of the party in power.
Minister Thurston has had two
or three informal talks with Ssc-
retary Gresham within the past week, and
has learned that Minister Willis' in.
structions were Of the most sweep
ing character. He learned with
surprise that it is the intention
OF the administration TO withdraw its
support from the queen as soon as she is
restored. and leave her to get along by
herself as best she can. 1t is the
understanding, also, OF the Off
cials of the Hawaiian legation,
Judging from what has been said
to them by Secretary Gresham and others
that the theory of the administration
is that the que MS restoration will be
followed by her downfall, and that then
the United States government will be in
position to properly consider a
request for annexation from the
provisional government. One thing
was made very clear to Secretary Gresham
during his talks with Minister Thurston,
and which caused him much sur.
prise. This is that the provisional
government has had an inkling Of
The purposes Of the administration, and
that they do not mean to surrender
unless compelled TO by force. Secretary
Gresham received this information
with smile of incredulitg,
but he was assured by Minister
Thurston that 1t was no laughing mat
ter; that the provisional government
would not subit under threat or menace.
but must be overcome by actual force
lsfore they would surrender
The exact strength OF the military
forcs under the provisional government is
100 meu, armed with mordern rifles and
well uniformed and equipped.
They are differed by Americans
and are drilled daily. -Four Calling
gurs and three Maxim guns are included
ia-their light batteries. The pres
ent force is the largest military
body OF mea the Islands have ever
ecen. No attempt was made under
the queen or under King Kalakaua
to maiuta n any organized militia