Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-19
HIS ACTION COMMENDED.

Secretary Foster CompIfmented Min- | fster Stevens for Recognizing the l ProvisionaI Government at Hawaii | Admiral Skerrett Wrote 10 Secre. l tary Herbert That the Provisional
 Government Was the Hest the Peo- | pie Ever Had, and Was Then Re-
 moved.
 l WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The fact that no
 dispatch from Minister Wihis, as far as can bs discovered by nasty examination of
 the voluminous documents appears in the
 correspondence and the admitted fact that
 one at least of his dispatches is withheld | from publication, increase the general anx- l iety to know exactly what Minister Willis did report to the state department. The correspondence includes some dispatches
 of the last administration of more recent | date than those transmitted to congress by
 President Harrison on February 16 and r
 last, which covered everything up to Jan
 uary, 1893. Under date of February IA, 1893, MT. Foster, secretary of state, in a communication to the secretary of the
 navy, says concerning the departments
 position toward Mr. Stsvens' conduct;
 "You will observe that Mr. Stevens &C., ton Is commended SO far ss 1t lies within
 the scope of standing instructions to the legation and the naval communicates in
 Hawaiian waters, but is disowned so far as 1t may appear to overstep that limit by set
 ting the authority of the United States
 above that of the Hawaiian government.
 beg to draw your attention to the con- cluding paragraph of that telegram and
 have to request that instructions in the same sense be forwarded at the same time to the commanding officer of the United States naval force in Hawaii" A telegram from Secretary Foster to Minister Stevens of date February 22, 1893, reads:
 ''In addition to previous instructions you will act in cooperation with the naval authorities to support the provisional gov ernment in maintaining security to life and property and good order until action can be taken on the treaty."
 The instructions to the various naval of ficers stationed at Hawaii covering period sists Of thirty five pages. On July IF, 1887, Secretary Whitney called the atten- tion of the commander of the Pacific sta- tion to the reported unsettled condition of affairs in Hawaii and directed him to CO., operate with the United States minister and support the latter, If necessary, with all his available force.
 The first reference to the present con- dition of affairs appears under date of January 28, 1893, when Secretary Tracy l ordered Admiral Skerrett to proceed to | Honolulu and to be vIgilsnt In protecting | American interests. The secretary said | that the provisional government had been | recognized by all foreign governments ex- i cept England. The admiral was directed | to deliver to Minister Stevens the follow | ing dispatch from Secretary Foster:
 "Your dispatch telegraphed from San | Francisco announcing revolution and es | tablishmsnt of provisional government | was received today. Your course in rec ognizlng an unopposed de facto govern ment appears to have been discreet and In accordance with the facts. The rule has | been uniformly to rscognizs and enter into | relations with any actual government in | full possession of effective power with the | assent of the people. You will continue to recogniZs the new government under | such conditions. It Is trusted that the change, besides conducting to the trsnquili- ty and welfare of the Hawaiian Islands, will tend to draw closer the intimate ties of amity and common interests which SO con- spicuously and necessarily knit them to the United States. You will keep in con- stsnt communication with the commander of the United States naval forcs at Homo lulu with a view to acting, if need be, for the protection of the interests and prop erty of American interests and aiding In the promotion of good order under the | changed conditions reported"
 Under date of March II, 1893, Secretary | Herbert, In letter to Admiral Skerrett, | says
 You will consult freely with NIT. Blount | and will obey any instructions you may re- | ceiVe from him regarding the course to be | iaIa nIa hr,t tha | your command"
 On August 16 Secretary Herbert sent 8 | message to Admiral Skerrett saying that | In the absence of Minister Blouat the ad- | mira,'s sole duty was confined to that of | an officer of the navy. He was to protect l American citizens and American property, but not to give aid to either party contend | ing for the government of Honolulu. Some of the causes of Admiral Skerrett's | removal from the command of the Hawaiian | station are indicated by the correspond | ercs On May 31, the admiral wrote:
 1T am of the opinion that the provl- | sionsl government is solidly and firmly es- | tablished and that their rule Is bringing | quiet and contentment."
 On June 2S he wrote: "I must inform | the department that the stability and | solidity of the provisional government Is | not considered to be all that impressed me | so faVOraOly. It WOulQ appear tnat tno iron heel of military law Is really what | serves to keep the provisional government | in authority. One of the government | officials eaid to Minister Blount he con- sidered the condition of affairs as bad as it | ever had been."
 A month later the admiral wrote: "Sure- | ly the government they now give the people | Ia the best they have ever had. believe in | their eventual success"
 On Septe mber F Secretary Herbert noti- | fed Admiral Skerrett that he had miseon- strued instructions and directed him to afford to British subjects and property such protection as had always been accord | ed by vessels of the American fleets to the subjects of her majesty and their property under like circumstances in the absence of British vessels.
 On October 20 Admiral Skerrett was ordered to proceed to San Francisco, and the next day Admiral Irwin was directed to go to Honolulu. The instructions to Admiral Irwin do not appear in the budget. In letter dated November IA Admiral Irwin says the instructions of the department are perfectly clear and will be carried out to the best of his ability.