The herald., 1893-11-20

surrender TO the provi6lonei govern
ment. In this way the revolution
reached ite solution"
Commissioner Blount submits the
original Of Stevens note dated 10th,
asking for the use OF the opera house
hall for Captain Wiltse and his men.
The agent OF the hall declined to grant
the use thereof because the building
had been damaged during the Will
cox insurrection in 1889. Commissioner
Blount continues "This building, Lieut..
Swinburne informs me, was agreed upon
on board the Boston before the troops
were landed, as the best place for the
location of the Boston's men. He sug-
gested on shipboard that the troops be
Qusrtered near the wharf, 80 as to be
near their base of supplies, the same
thing having been done when Admiral
Skerrett landed troops in 1874. Captain
Wiltse and Stevens thought it better
that they should be located in the opera
house. Failing to get this building,
Arion hall, which is on q line with it
add adjoins it, and ie across the
street from the government building,
was obtained for the troops. The men
were placed in the rear of Arion hall.
but in full view OF the palace. The
utAOCb AhtCitCnCQ uctncCA buO kCNCIn-
ment building and the palace. 1t was
about $50 yards from one of these build
ings to the other. The American troops
were on the same side of the latter street
with the provisional government troops,
which did not probably number 100
men. II the queens troops should have
attacked the provisional government
troops, our men were in danger of being
injured, which might have brought
them into collision with the queens
troops. The same is true If the pro-
vlsional government troops had ad-
vanced on the palace. II the
American troops were landed to
protect American property and
the persons of American citizens, their
location at this place, unfortunately
signitied q different purpose. The
queen, cabinet and followers undoubt-
edly believed from the location of the
American troops and the quick recog-
milton OF the provisional government by
Stevens, that the United States forces
would aid the provisional governments
forces in the event of conflict"
admiral Skerrett addressed the fol-
lowing letter 10 Commissioner Blount:
"SIR: l examined with a view to the
r>fSShiOA Va VIZ PiCluicCn Akbb OCOuplcu
by the force landed from the United
States steamer Boston and known as
Arion hall. situated on the west side of
the government building. The position
OF this location Is in the rear
Of the large brick building
known as Music hall. The
street it faces is a comparatively narrow
one, the building itself facing the gov
ernment building. In my opinion it
was unadvisable to locate the troops
there if they were landed for the
protection of United States citizens,
being distantly removed from the busines
portion of town and generally far away
from the United States legation and
the consulate-general, as we'll as being
distant from the house of United States
citizens. Had the provisional govern
ment troops been attacked from the
east such attack would have placed
them in the line of fire. Had
Music hall been seized by the
queens troops they would have
been under their fire, had such
been their desire. IL is for these
reasons / consider the position oc-
cupied lily eelscted. Naturally,
if they were landed with a view to sup
port the provisional government troops,
which then occupied the government
6gai binding i.say i Esa 9 wise eneice. as they
them from the palace grounds in front.
There is nothing further for me to
state in reference to this matter, and as
has been called to my attention, all OF
which is submitted for your considera-
tion. "Very respectfully,
81. s. SKERRETT,
NJ
U. s. naval iorces."
Cornwall, member Of the queens cab
met, made a statement detailing the
facts leading to the proclamation and
attendant thereon, in which he says:
ION Sunday morning, January 10Th,
Thurston, the head of the revolutionary
party, called upon my colleagues, Min
isters Colburn and Peterson, and
asked them to join with him
self and others in deposing the
queen, assuring them that such move
ment would be perfectly cafe, as Min
lister Stevens promised them the support
of the United States forces, and also
that he would recognize and support
the provisional government as soon as
such could be- taken. On Tues
day. the 18th, we were informed
that the insurgents would pro-
claim a provisional government in
the afternoon and the cabinet called
upon Minister Stevens asking him If b.
would afford any assistance to the legal
and lawful government to which he was
accredited in case such assistance should
be required. He refused in uRmistaka
BILE terms, and made us understand he
should acknowledge and support the
revolutionary government as soon as 1t
was ssta blished."
Mr.. Cornwall explains that the gov
eminent did not place forces in the
government building because of the
presence OF United States troops across
the street. 1--WE realized then,"
adds Cornwall, "that any steps
from our side to dislodge and
arrest the rebels would unavoidably
lead us into a conflict with the United
States forces, and we decided to eur
render, with the full understanding that
euch surrender was under protest for
the United States government to decide
if the action of their minister and the
use OF their forces to de-
strov a friendly government
was iustifable and according to
American principles. 1t was after z
O'Clock p. m. when the arms and ammu-
milton of the qneen's government were
turned over to the provisional govern
ment or about three houra after Minis
tor Stevens had recognized the revolu-
tionary government"
In q letter to the state department