New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-01
HAWAII AND ENGLAND.
SIR JULIAN HAS ENTERED no PROTEST AT
WASHINGTON YET
But ONE NAY BE EXPECTED SOONER OR
LATER-A DISPOSITION TO TREAT THE AN.
NEXATIoN QUESTION PROMPTLY-THE
MATTER BEFORE CONGRESS
YESTERDAY.
TBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUyE.1

YESTERDAY
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUYE1
Washington. Jan. 3l.--The report that Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British Minister here, had
received instructions from the Foreign Office in
london TO file with the Secretary OF State
solemn protest against the action Of the United
States officials in Honolulu, and especially against
the conduct of the captain Of the Boston in land
ing 800 blue jackets to preserve the lives and
property of American citizens, turns out to he
what its authors cuphoniously call "prcmature'
to-day, hut which callouS and cynical readers of
such dispatches characterize IN the vulgar lingo
Of the profession as fake The possibility of
protest on the part Of the British Govern
mcnt 10 the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands
being filed in due course of time is generally adj
mtted but this is different matter altogether
from protest against the action of United States
officials in Honolulu
For . "protes. against annexation the time
can hardly be said to haze arrived yet; and it
is not likely 10 arrive until after some more sub
stantidl foundations for Il true knowledge Of the
condition of Affairs in the Hawaiian Islands have
been laid. than the mere newspaper reports and
gossps of unauthorized persons are able b. supply
In other words. while the whole question affecting
the future of the Hawaiian Islands Is regarded on
all sides one of paramount Importance, ana one
which it is thought desirable to settle with
reasonable promptncss, there Is no disposition
shown either among the members of the Admins
tration or IN the two Houses Of Congress, to act
with unbccomihg hastc until the commissioners
Of the Provisional Government in Honolulu now
on their way 70 Washington, have been heard
from officially.
II is idle TO deny that great majority OF
Senators and Representatives desire, "a the frcsi
dent and the members of his Cabinet undoup'edly
dcsire 70 500 the problem submitted for their
consideration as Mr. Blaine so apty called H.
solved upon an avowcdly American basis" even
il il should 20 beyond mere maintenance OF the
autonomy of tho islands and involve their an
ncxation 10 the United States. But ono
is in position as yet 10 say what tho propositions
are of which tho Hawaiian commissioners are
the bearers nor 70 what extent those commits
sioncrs are authorized 10 carry the negotiations,
il negotiations there shall be-, it is impossible
10 obtain from any one whose Judgment Is worth
recording or whose voice will assist in determining
tho issues to be presented a dchnltive expression
Of opinion. One thing only Is reasonably Ger
tain viz: That tho Administration Of President
Harrison j. not likely 10 be- influenced by what
are or are not reported to be the views OF itS
successor, and that it will determine, as far as
il i in tS power to do 50, the policy to he
pursued hy this country without reference 10 the
"protcsts,' diplomatic and otherwise. of foreign
governments of which the silly threats and vapor-
ings of an irresponsible press suspected 10
De the echo.
The meeting Of the Cabinet this morning was.
Of course. the rost important incident of the day,
az the chief subject discussed by the President
and his advisers was the proposition of Hawaiian
annexation which the commissioners from the pro-
visional government of tho islands understood
to bring All the members of the Cabinet were
present to-day, and it il admitted that there was
long and serious discussion Of tie course best TO
he taken by the Administration IN dealing with
the request Of the de facto' Hawaiian Govern
mcnt. Suggestions 10 the policy TO he adopted
were largely provisional, Of course, for a" YET
the Government here does not know definitely
what are the powers Of the Hawaiian comm'-
sioncrs or what terms they expect 10 ask for
annexation by the United States. II was agreed
that more detailed knowledge would have To he
received on both the>, points before any deter
inmate line Of action could be seriously c0nSld-
cred According 10 information rccclved here
from San Francisco the Hawaiian Commissioners
will not reach the Capital until Friday, ana by
that time If Is expected that fresh news may
arrive bv steamer from Honolulu. The point was
emphasized in the Cabinet meeting that il would
ton about the state of feeling in the Islands be-
fore beginning negotiations with the commits
sionors.
For this Governments course, il was urged, would
have 10 he guided largely by the state of opinion
among the most enlightened and infiuentlah Iro-
pie of Hawaii the United States having always
followed a policy OF close friendship with Hawaii
and desiring now TO enter upon more intimate
political relations with the now Government ONLY
in response to and in conformity with the wishes
Of the iawaiians themselves. The practi'ai OUT
come of the Cabinet meeting was decision TO
take no definite steps until this Government Is III
formed precisely what powers and authority me
commissioners have, and on what conditions th'y
offer "a closer alliance of their country with the
United States Great care win also he taken to
secure from Hawaii full expression OF sentiment
there, 80 that the negotiations which may pr pr-
gun may bc carried on with intelligence and due
regard 10 such sentiment.
Recurring once more to the protest expected
from Great Britain it L. as has already been
pointed out not outside the limits OF possibility
pnt Just what England wouLl protest against it
is difficult TO understand The t"mcrity of that
nation in matters of this kind is we'll known, and
prote.ts are therefore 10 he expected, but I'll"
nature or cause of complaint in the present case
is moi apparcnt II is not thought that England
vould protcst AGAINST the landing of the BoStons
,ailors and marines in Honolulu 10 protect lives
and property Of American citizens as her own
navy Frequently engages in such work; nor can
il he believed that she would dare to protest.
against the visit 10 this country OF commission
crs from Hawaii upon a mission OF Importance ana
interest 10 themselves before the object OF such
mission had been officially stated to the fr'sl-
dent There might, from an English point ot
view h, some reason in protesting against the
establishment Of protectoratc over or the an
ncNation Of Hawaii by this country but even then
thi, would not bc courteous before proper time,
after consumma;ion Of such an act, for example.
\ protest before official inquiry into such pos
sibility has been begun is regarded as somewhat
previous'-a yell-krown official ure the stronger