Huntsville gazette., 1893-11-25
BLOUNTS REPORT.
President Cleveland's Special En-
roy to Hawaii.
Tells How, According to the Testimony
He Took in Honolulu, the Provision
al Government was Establish
ed-Stevens VIII Reply.
The Gresham Blount Correspondence.

Gresham yesterday made public all
tary of state and James I'll. Blount,
commissioner and late minister to the
Hawaiian islands. Mr.. Gresham, in
giving this voluminous printed matter
to the press, explained that it included
everything connected with Mr.. Blount's S
mission to Hawaii with the exception
of some statistical tables relating to
three parts, the first beginning with a
copy of the Instructions given Mr..
Blount on March II, 1898, prior to his
departure from Washington for Hon
olulu, and the last part ending with a
brief letter under date of July 81. 1898,
in which he takes his congo as fol-
lows:
Predicts the Collapse of the Provisional
Government.
The condition OF parties in the islands is one
of Quiescence. The action OF the United
States is awaited by all as matter of necessi-
ty. This condition, it can be assumed, will re-
main until the proposition to annex is &C
cepted or rejected. 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 popu-
lation to draw from to strengthen it. Ulti-
nately twill fall without fail. 1t may preserve
its existence for year or two but not longer
Did His Duty Under Difficulties.
Then he adds he had done his duty
rs well as he could, considering he was
surrounded by persons interested in
misleading, and his private affairs
necessitated his return home.
Secretary Gresham's letter of in
structions, dated March II, defines
clearly how far, in the opinion of the
president, the use of armed force is
permissible by the United States to
pull down or set up governments.
Mr. Gresham says:
~ Secretary Greshams instructions.
In the Judgment OF the president your au-
thority, as well as that Of the commander OF the
naval forces IN Hawaiian waters should be.
and is limited II the use OF physical force to
such measure as are necessary to protect the
persons and properly af on. citizens; and
while abstaining from any manner OF inter
ference with the domestic concerns OF the Is
lands you should indicate your Willingness to
intervene with your friendly offices in the in
terest of a peaceable settlement of troubles
within the limit of sound discretion.
Should it be necessary to land an armed
force upon Hawaiian territory on occasions of
popular disturbance, when the authorities may
be unable to give adequate protection to the
life and property of citizens OF the United
States, the assent of such authority should
first be obtained if it can be without prejudice
to those involved.
Your power in this regard should not, how
measures by the representatives of other
powers for the lives and property of their citi-
zens or subjects residing in the islands
While the United States claims no right to
interfere in the political or domestic affairs or
in the internal conflicts of the Hawaiian islands
otherwise than as herein stated. or for the
purpose Of maintaining any treaty or other
rights which they possess, this government
will adhere to its consistent and established
policy in relation to them, and it will not ac-
quiescc in domestic interference by other
powers
In letter dated April 6 Mr.. Blount
announces his arrival at Honolulu, and
tells of his refusal, against the strong
urging of Minister Stevens, to accept a
house and the use of servants, car
riages, horses, etc, 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
Skerrett Says Secretary Tracy Favored
Annexation.
Appended to letter Of April s, in
which Mr.. Blount deplores the per-
verted influence of Minister Stevens
and Consul-General Servance, to which
he ascribes the existence of the provi-
sional government. is stenographic
report of an interview between Mr..
Blount and Admiral Skerrett, in which
the following occurs:
Admiral Skerrett-I called at the navy de-
partment on the 30th of December TO see Mr..
Tracey, the secretary of the navy. to ask him
II he had any final instructions for me. as
was going to leave the next day for San Fran
cisco to assume command of the Pacific
squadron He replied: Commodore, have
no instructions to give you. You will go there
and perform your duty as L know you will, and
everything will be satisfactory"
remarked: .Mr. Tracy, l want to ask you
about the Hawaiian affairs. When l was out
there twenty years ago had frequent conver-
sations with the then United States minister,
Mr. Pierce. on the subject Of the island. 1 was
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 They will be very
glad to annex Hawaii
He said LAS a matter of course none but the
ordinary legal means can be used to persuade
these people to come into the United States ="
BIount's Opinion of spreckles.
On April 81, Mr.. Blount says he was
called on by Claus Spreckels. But"
saws Mr.. Blount, ''how much or how
little Mr.. Spreckels knows about this
matter am unable to say, as do not
know"
BIount Disapproves OF Landing Troops.
On the same day Mr. Blount, for the
second time, disapproved of a request
Of the provisional government that the
American forces be landed for drill.
The landing of the troops, pending
negotiations between the queen and
President Dole" the commissioner
saws. might be used to impress the
former with fear that troops were