Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-02
There VIII BE No Delay I'm En-cting Con-
ference, and the President Prepared to Act
Promptly-A Message to Congress Likely
to BE Sent Next Week.

the purpose OF making preliminary arrange
ments for subsequent meeting 10 be held
March %, at which an organization will be ef-
fected and the real business of the tribunal
put in active operation.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS.
The negotiations with the Hawaiian commits
sioners now on their way to Washington will
be conducted on the part Of this government
by Secretary ]. W. Foster, but no arrangements
for the conferences will be made until after the
arrival OF the commissioners. They are ex-
pected here Friday noon and will make Worm
ley's Hotel their headquarters. It is
likely that Mr.. Mott Smith, the Hawaiian min
lister under Queen Kapuokslani. will be re-
quested to arrange for an audience with the
federal authorities He will probably confer
with Secretary Foster at the State Department
Saturday and arrange for the reception
of the Hawaiian delegation by Secre-
tary Foster on Monday, and if their credentials
are entirely regular and satisfactory they may
be formally received by the President the same
day. The arranging of these necessary
formalities will most probably preclude
a conference with the Secretary of
State by Saturday as was originally
expected. 1t NAV still be arranged. however,
provided the business is expedited. This gov
and will act with the utmost promptness con-
sonant with the importance Of the question at
issue.
TO BE SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS NEXT WEEK.
The impression is general that the President
will be prepared to submit the question TO Con-
gress by the end Of next week with a message
strongly advocating the active cooperation Of
this government in sustaining the expressed
wish OF the people Of Hawaii.
ACTION OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
1t can be stated positively that the action Of
| the Navy Department with reference to the
Hawaiian situation, outlined in The STAR yes
terday as a probability, will be adhered to-
Preparation of naval vessels for sea service will
be actively pushed, but the naval force at Hon.
olulu will not be augmented to any extent un-
less affairs have serious aspect. Vessels on
foreign service will be held within reach of the
telegraph and marines will be placed under
orders preparatory to speedy departure.
Much interest is manifested at the Navy De-
partment by officers who do not compose "the
powers that be" in the action of the depart
ment concerning the flying squadron'-the
flagship Baltimore, the Charleston, the San
Francisco and the Yorktown-now on it's way
| to Barbados under orders to proceed TO Hamp-
ton Roads and New York for participation in
the naval rendezvous and review. These ves-
sells are due at Barbados on February IL and
that they viii continue their voyage
to the United States. 1t is proba-
BILE that something definite bearing on
the Hawaiian question will have developed
| by the date of their arrival at Barb badoes and
| the department will then see its way clear TO
take some action to the disposition Of the
| squadron. The voyage from Barbados to
| Hampton Roads will consume about three or
| four days only. and therefore apprehension
is felt that the four vessels will get beyond the
reach of the telegraph for any length of time.
| Secretary John W. Foster said this morning
| that there were no developments in the
| Hawaiian matter. There would probably be
no news, he said, until the annexation COM
missioners presented their views.
| MAPS OF THE ISLANDS.
| The War Department, at the request Of the
State Department, is having copies made Of a
number of blue prints showing the topograph-
| ical situation Of Honolulu and other points in
| the Sandwich Islands, which prints are in the
possession Of the War Department. The cop
les and the rest Of the originals not duplicated
| will be given to Secretary j. w. Foster for ref
erence in the conference he is to have Satur-
| day with the Hawaiian commissioners. Dupli-
Gates OF these maps will probably be for
warded to the naval forces in Hawaiian waters.
| NO MORE SHIPS AT PRESENT.
There is authority for the statement that un.
less affairs in Hawaii take on a more warlike
aspect than at present no more United States
naval vessels will be dispatched to that country
for some time to come. No orders have been
i issued for the preparation Of the Ranger.
Adams or Monterey now at San Francisco for
this service and none will be given except In
| the event Of sn emergency requiring the pres
ence Of additional ships The Mohican. which
left San Francisco Saturday, will Join the Bos-
ton at Honolulu IN about eight days. These
| two vessels are deemed to be sufficient to pro-
tect American interests on the islands under
existing conditions.
| COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY IMPORTANCE OF
| HAWAII.
| When the reciprocity treaty with Hawaii was
under discussion in 1876 the San Francisco
chamber Of commerce recorded an opinion in
its favor in the following words:
| Opposite the very portals of this commerce.
and in its track lie these islands, keeping as it
were, watch and ward over this entire coast
Plant an active enemy upon them, and even IL
| he were the most Insignificant of the maritime
powers, he would probably annihilate this COM
merce. Apower with feet consisting only Of the
| Florida and Alabama would, intrenched in these
marine fortresses. harsss all profit out Of it. In
the hands of England or France the effect would
out of the great highway of the Pacific and lock
us up, SO far as commerce is concerned, within
our own mountain ranges"
| MILITARY VALUE OF THE ISLANDS
That was in 1876. Since then it is admitted
that both the commercial and strategic import
ance Of Hawaii have steadily increased The
growth Of its military value with the extension
| of railroads across the continent and the be-
| ginning Of the isthmus canal has been especially
1 great.
| Admiral Porter once said that with these
islands our Pacific coast 10 impregnable, with
out them il is dsfens eiess." And the London
Times long ago declared that 'the maritime
power that holds Pearl river harbor and
moors her feet there holds the key Of
the North Pacific The government Of
the United States has . naval and coaling
station at Pago Pago in the Island Of Tutuiia,
but according to the New York SUN that CON-
| Germs mainly our interests in central Polynesia
| and the trade from San Francisco the 18TH
mus to Sydney and Auckland The commsr-
| cial route between Australia and Vancouver