The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-21


WASHINGTON, Nov. 2O.-Secretary
Gresham to day made public all the
correspondence between the Secretary
Of State and James Il. Blount, commits
sioner paramount and later minister to
the Hawaiian Islands. Mr.. Gresham,
in giving this voluminous printed mat
ter to the press, explained that it in.
cluded everything connected with
Blounts mission to Hawaii, with the
exception of some statistical tables
relating to the stands.
The matter consists of three parts,
the first beginning with copy of the
instructions given Blount on March IL,
1893, prior to his departure from Wash
ington for Honolulu, and the last part
ending with brief letter of July 81,
1893, in which he concludes as follows:
''The condition OF parties in the ia
lands is one Of quiescence. The action
Of the United States Is awaited by al as
matter of necessity. The condition,
1t can be assumed, will remain until the
proposition to annex is accepted or re-
jected. In the latter contingency no
sudden movement Is likely to occur.
The present government can only rest
on the use of military force, possessed
of most OF the arms in the islands, with
a small white population to draw from
to strengthen it. Ultimately it will
fall without fail. 1t may preserve its
existence for year or two, but not
longer"
Then he adds that he has done his
duty as we'll as he could ICON siderinr 1
was surrounded by persons Interested
in misleading me-" and his private
affairs necessitated his return home.
Secretary Gresham's letter of ms true.
tions to Blount, dated March 18th, define
clearly how far in the opinion of the
President the use Of armed force is per-
Missile by the United States to pull
down or set up governments.
Gresham says: I'm the opinion of the
President your authority, as we'll as
that OF commander of naval forces in
81 awaiian waters, should be and is
limited in the use of physical force to
such measures as are necessary to pro-
| tecs the persons and property of our
citizens; and while abstaining from any
manner of interference with the domes.
tic concerns of the islands, you should
indicate your willingness to intervene
with your friendly office in the interest
OF peaceable settlement of troubles with
the limits Of sound consideration.
"Should 1t be necessary to land an
armed force upon Hawaiian territory
on the occasion Of popular disturbance
when the local authority may be unable
to give adequate profession to the life
and property Of the citizens of the
United States the assent of such author
ity should be first obtained, il it can
be done, without prejudice to the in
terests involved.
Your power in this regard should
not, however, be claimed TO the exclu-
sion OF similar powers by the represen-
tatives OF other powers for the protection
of the lives and property of the citizens
or subjects residing in the islands
while the United States claim no
right to interfere In the political or
domestic affairs or in the international
conflicts OF the Hawaiian Islands other
wise than as herein stated or for the
purpose OF maintaing any treaty or
other right which they possess"
In letter, dated April 6, Blount an
nounces his arrival at Honolulu, and
tells OF his refusal, against the strong
urging of Minister Stevens, to accept o
house and the use of servants, car
riages, horses. etc 4, furnished by the
provisional government, paying what.
ever wanted for it, from nothing up"
He also notes the refusal of tenders
from the ex-queen and others.
Appended to letter of April 1s, in
which Blount deplores the perverted in
iuence of Minister Stevens and Consul
General Severance, to which he ascribes
the existence Of the provisional govern.
ment, Is stenographic report Of an in
terview between Blount and Admiral
Skerrett, in which the following occurs:
Admiral Skerrett-I called at the
Navy Department on the 3Oth of Deem.
Der to see Mr.. Tracy, the Secretary OF
the Navy, to ask him If he had any
final instructions for me, as was going
to leave the next day for San Francisco
to assume command of the Pacific squad.
room. He replied:
Commodore. l have no instructions
to give you. You will go there and
perform your duty, as I know you will.
and everything will be satisfactory"
remarked: "Mr Tracey, 1 want to
ask you about these Hawaiian affairs.
When L was out there twenty years
ago had frequent conversations with
the United States minister, Mr.. Pierce,
on the subject of the islands. l wss
told that the United States Government
did not wish to annex the islands of
Hawaii"
He replied: Commodore, the wishes
OF the Government have changed. Thew
will be very glad to annex Hawaii" He
said as matter of course none but the
ordinary legal means can be used to
persuade these people to come into the
United States.
On April 81 Blount, for the second
time, disapproved Of request OF the
provisional governments that n forca be