Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-07
DISCOURAGING DELAY
Marks the Progress Of the Negotia-
lions With Hawaii.
THE PRESIDENTS PLANS ARE IN DOUBT.
The Island Chatting Over Seeming
Neglect Of This Government.
OTHER NATIONS INTERESTED.

Mr. Willis of Kentucky, upon whom will
devolve the difficult task of explaining te
the Hawaiian government the cause Of the
delay on the part Of the United States gov
eminent in acting upon its application fol
annexation, closed up his business in this
city yesterday and leaves Washington to-
night for his home in Kentucky, whence he
will 60 to San Francisco to take passage
on the first steamer leaving for Honolulu
Several newspapers of yesterday said Min
lister Willis left here for his post Wednes-
day night in spite of the statement in The
Star of Thursday that he was here that day
in conference with the President. The Star
was right and the other papers were wrong
Mr.. Willis had final talk with Secretary
Gresham at the State Department yesterday
afternoon and was furnished with copies OF
all the official correspondence bearing on
the Hawaiian question, including the vol
luminous reports of Paramount Authority
Blount. He will reach Honolulu about the
LIST OF November, and. judging from his
preparations. he evidently anticipates a long
stay In the land Of Kanakas.
Discournging Delay.
All the proceedings in this matter are
marked with the greatest elaboration, and
the absence Of any apparent desire to ex-
pedite the settlement of the questions at
issue. is said to have thoroughly discourag-
ed the representatives of the provisional
government of Hawaii in their efforts to
negotiate a treaty Of annexation
Minister Thurston has spent most of his
time at Chicago in attendance at the fair,
anxiously awaiting a summons to Wash
inston to resume the consideration OF the
proposition or annexation submitted by his
government during the last administration,
and renewed since the present administra-
tlon came into power. Since the with
orawai OF the treaty Of annexation from
the senate last spring, very little progress
appears to have been made in the matter of
treaty. everything being held in allegiance
untll MI. Blount had concluded his personal
investigation Of the situation. According to
the most authentic Information, Mr.
Biounts report is adverse to the annexa-
uon IDEA and favors instead a submission
OF the question of government to the vote
OF the natives Of the island, the majority
OF whom. under the control Of Claus Spreck-
les. the sugar king. are believed to be in
kalani.
II this report is true and the administra-
tion should adopt the RECOMMENDATION of
ar. Blount II is not at all improbable that
the present government Of Hawaii will
make an equally radical change of policy
~ Is explained that the provisional govern
menu, which came into power on the over
throw OF the monarchy. applied to this
government for annexation or in case
that wa, was impossible for protection
H.
out 1t. The United States recognized that
government and treated with il and a
treaty of conditional annexation was con-
Guided by the last administration. This
treaty was submitted to the Senate for rati-
ncation but was withdrawn by President
Cleveland before it had. been acted upon
Recent developments have called forth the
statement that the United States has only
TO determine whether 1t wishes to annex
the islands or TO establish a protectorate
over them, under the existing form of gov
eminent. and that ii has never been asked
to establish any other form of government
for the islands. In other words. IL the
United States is not prepared to treat with
the present government which has been
recognized by all the other governments of
the world, 1t is under no obliga tons what
ever to provide a new plan of government
for the islands. especially while they re-
main entirely beyond it's Jurisdiction.
1t is pointed out that there is a vast differ
ence between the proposition of giving the
United States control of the islands under
their present government and the propo-
sition of changing the government entirely
and then insuring its continuance in power
The downfall of the monarchy was the re-
suit of popular revolution. and its resto-
ration by the method attributed to Mr..
Blount would be complete notification of
all the good that has been accomplished.
Hawaii ChnfinR.
1t is agreed on all sides that the Ha-
waiian Islands would be a most valuable
acquisition to any country interested in the
commerce of the Pacific ocean, and that,
IL the United States will not accept them
when they are rendered to it, they will not
have long to wait for acceptance by either
Great Britain, Germany or Japan, each of
which governments is said to be more than
eager for their possession. The islands
form the key to the Pacific ocean, and
would be gobbled up without a moments
hesitation by either of the governments
named if 1t had the chance, which the
United States appears to be SO unwilling to
accept.
The situation is growing serious from the
fact that the government of the islands is
said to be chatting over the apparent dis
inclination Of the United States government
to accept its terms on existing conditions
and it iS asserted that similar negotiations
are to be opened with Great Britain. The
particular grievance of the Hawaiian gov
eminent is that President Cleveland is said
to be impressed with a desire to determine
how the islands shall be governed without
regard to their relation to the United
States rather than to the consideration of
their proper relation to the United States
under the existing order of things.
President Cleveland may have been gross
ly misrepresented in this matter but IL
so 1t Is entirely due to the profound secrecy
that has marked the entire proceedings
His real policy in the matter will not be
established to the entire satisfaction OF the
public until 1t is officially promulgated in
the routine course of executive business