The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1893-12-21
WILLIS
Full Test of the written Instruction.
Given Minister wills In Regard TO
Dealing with Affairs In Hawaii.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON, ID. O., o
Mo A ICon udnptIan

oh'Sial uutieS, IL Is necessary TO communicates
10 you In confidence special instructions for
your guidance In so so far us concerns the rela'
lions OF the government Of the United States
towards the dc facto government OF tho Ha'
waiian Islands, Tho president deemed II his
duty to withdraw from tho senate tho treaty
OF annexation which had been signed by
the secretary OF state AMI the agents
OF the provisional government, and TO dis
patch n trusted representative TO Hawaii 10
impnrtlally investigate the causes Of the sd
called revolution and ascertain and repor' tho
true situation In these islands. This intJrma.
ton was needed the better to enable the prcsi'
dent to discharge d delicate and important
public duty. The Instructions given to Mr..
Blount, OF which you are furnished with o
copy, point out n line OF conduct TO he observed
by him In his onlcial and personal relation
on the Islands, by which you will be guided so
far as these are applicable. and not
Inconsistent with what is herein contained.
II remains TO ncQuaint you with the present
conclusions upon the facts embodied in Mr..
Blounts report, and to direct your course In
accordance herewith.
The provisional government was not estab.
lishcd by the Hawaiian people or with their
consent or acquicsccnCo, nor has II since cx.
istcd with their consent, Tho queen refused
to surrender her powers 70 the provisional gov.
eminent until convinced that the minister OF
the United states had recognized II MS the de
iacto authority and would support and defend
1t with the military force OF the United States,
aud that resistance would prccipltatc q bloody
contict with the United States forces. She
was advised and assured Ivy her minister's,
anl by the leaders " ths movement for the
overthrow OF her government, that II she sur
rendered under protest her case would after.
ward be- fairly considered by the president Of
the United states.
The queen finally wisely yielded to the armed
forces " the United States then puartered In
Honolulu, relying upon the eool falkland honor
az Hh4 nN-HN.sY sthaA. Zeal .w.,,s 81 d hn1
occurred, to undo the action OF the minister
and rcinstlte her In the authority which she
claimed Us the constitutional sovereign OF the
Hawaiian islands.
Attrr a patient examination of Mr.. Blount's
reports, the president is satisfied that the
movement against the yucca, IL not instigntcd,
was encouraged and supported by the repre-.
sentative OF this government at honolulu
That ne promised In advance To aid her enemies
Ia an EFFORT TO overthrow the government OF tho
Hawaiian Islands and set up 10y force the new
government In its place, and that he kept this
promise 10y causing ~ detachment OF troops
to he landed from the United States ship Dos.
ton, on the 10 OF January, and by r~ccognia.
Ing the provisional government the next dry
when 1t was too feeble to defend itself, and the
constitutional government was able success.
fully 10 maintain its authority against any
threatening force other than that OF the United
States already landed.
The president has therefore determined that
he will not send back to the senate for its nc.
ton thereon the treaty which he withdrew
from that body for further consideration on
the 9th day of March last. On your arrival at
Honolulu you will take advantage OF nm early
opportunity TO inform the queen of this deter.
lninatiOn. making known to her the prcsi.
dcuts sincere regret that the reprchcnsi.
BILE conduct OF the American minister and the
unauthorized presence on land OF a military
force OF the United States Obliged her to sur.
render her SOyprpIyutv for thp lima hpinu md
rely on the justice OF this government to
undJ the Migrant wrong. You will, how.
ever ut the same time inform the queen.
tint when reinstatcd, the president expects
that She will pursue u magnanimous course
by granting fun amnesty TO all who PARTED.
patcd in the movement against her. including
persons who are, or who have been. officially or
otherwise, connected with the provisional gov.
ernincnt. dcpriving them OF no right or privi.
lcEc which they enjoyed before the so.callcd rev.
olution, All obligations created by the provis,
ional government in due course OF adninistra
tion should be assumed. Having received the
queens agreement TO pursue this wise and
humane policy, which 1t Ia believed YOU
will speedily obtain. you will then
advise the executive OF the pro
visional government and his ministers Of
the presidents determination OF the question
which their actions and those OF the queen de
volvcd upon him, and that they are expected
to promptly relinqnish to her constitutional
authority. Should the queen decline to pur
sue the liberal course suggested, or should the
provisional government refuse to abide by the
presidents decision, YOU Will report the facts
and await further directions. In carrying
out these general instructions you will be
guided largely ly your own good judgment In
dealing with the delicate situation.
am, sir, your obcdicnt servant,
w. q. GRESHAM.
Enclosed are Secretary G%rcsham's
confidential instructions to Mr.. Blount,
dated March II, 1898.
On November ~ Secretary Gresham
telegraphcd Minister Willis as follows:
The brevity and uncertainty of your tcle.
grams are embarrassing. Sou will insist upon
amnesty and recognition of obligations of the
provisional government as essential conditions
of restoration. All interests will be promoted
by prompt action,
The next telegram to Minister Willis
from Secretary Gresham is dated De.
cember 3, 1t read as follows:
Your dispatch, which was answered hy
steamer on the sth November, seems to call for
additional instructions. Should the queen re,
fuse assent to the written conditions, You Will
ut once inform her that the president will
cease interposition in her behalf, and that
while he deems it his duty TO en-
deavor TO restore to the sovereign
the constitutional government OF the
islands, his further efforts IN that direction
will depend upon the queens unqualified
agreement that all obligations created by the
provisional government in n proper course OF
administration shall be assumed, and upon
such pledges by her as will prevent the adop
tion of any measures OF prosecution or punish
ment for what has been done in the past by
those setting up or supporting the provisional
government. The president feels that by our
original interference, and what followed we
have incurred responsibilities to the whole Ha
waiian community, and 1t would not be just to
put one party at the mercy of the other.
Should the queen ask whether, IL She accedes
to the conditions, active steps will be taken by
the United States to effect her restoration, OF
To maintain her authority thereafter, you will
say that the president cannot use force with
out the authority OF congress. Should tho
queen accept the conditions and the provisional
government refuse TO surrender, you will be
governed by previous Instructions. II the pro-
visional government asks whether the United
States will hold the queen to the fulfllment of
the stipulated agreement, you will say that the
president, acting under dictates OF honor and
duty, as he has been in endeavoring to effect
the restoration, will do all in his %constitu,
tional power TO cause the observance Of tho
conditions he had imposed, GRESHAM.