The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-12

WASHINGTON, Jan. t1.-Tho reception
OF dispatches from Minister Willis of.
ficially conveying to the United States
Government the information that the
provisional government of Hawaii had
refused to accede 10 his demand to step
down and out, had its sequel this morn
ing in conference between tho Presi-
dent and Secretary Gresham.
The conference began early and tho
presence of Secretaries Lamont and Car
Isle at the White House and the alb
sence OF Secretary Herbert from his Of
fee gave rise to a report that special
meeting Of the Cabinet on the Hawaiian
question was in progress. But Carlisle
and Lamont saw the President on other
business and Herbert did not go to the
White House at all.
Secretary Gresham went over TO see
the President shortly after ten o'clock
and together they went ovar the COM
munications received from Willis which
arrived last night AS result copies
of these were ordered to be prepared for
transmission to the Senate and the
House.
There were no new developments in
the situation to-day in the executive
branch OF the Government. The advices
received from Willis confirmed the dis.
patches by the Warrinoo and contain
the answer OF the provisional govern
mont to the demand or request" IS
Dole is said to call it, made by Willis.
The text of this communication and
the Other documents received will be
withheld from the press until trans
mission To Congress, probably To morrow,
and will obtain publicity through that
means.
Blount Before the Investigating Com
mitteo.
Contrary to previous announcement,
Elk Com m issioner Blount was before
the Senate committee which is inves-
tigating the relations OF this country
with Hawaii under the resolution of
Senator Morgan. The committe had at
first requested Mr.. Blount to appear on
Friday, but for some reason thore was
a change of programme and he was
summoned for to day.
The efforts Of the committee we're di-
rected more to securing an explanation
from Blount of his various act, while
III AIohOiuiu OuhH w lFOIu Qlm
an accurate account of his mission, OF
which the committee WAS already sufli-
GENTLY informed through his official re
port. The explanation necessarily,
however, involved direct allusion to and
in some instances full account of his
PROCEEDINGS.
He told brien fly Of his appointment on
the l1th of March. 1893, by the Presi-
dent as Spccia! com missioner to investi.
gate tho condition Of affairs OH the
Hawaiian Islands, which had been de-
veloped by tae revolution of last Jan.
uary.
This revelation, together with the
part the American troops had taken in
connection with IL, tho fact that the
American minister mad established an
American protectorato over the islands,
and that Il pc5vislcDal government had
been formed and waS working 10 have
the islands annexed to tho United
States, had decided the President to
have the whole matter investigated by
some one who had no connection with
these occurrences and he had been Sc
lected for this mission.
1t is understood that during tho OK
animation no was reminded Of the
charge that his investigation had been
partial, and that his report showed
upon it's face that he had been preiu-
diced against the annexation from the
beginning. This, Blount said, was
untrue, and he contended that tho re-
port was IMPARTIAL and the investiga
tion ID AIDE without prejudice or favor.
Little New Information Obtained.
When asked by the chairman whether
he desired to make statement con-
corning his report or upon any ques
ton bearing upon Hawaiian affairs,
Blount replied that he did not care to
add anything tt what he had said He
had not, he said. come before the com
mittee to defend his report, but to
answer any question which might be
put to him by the committee
The committee was compelled TO ad-
NIT that worry littlo information had
been obtained from Blount, and that
little further light had been thrown on
the situation in Hawaii.
Piexoto Has No Notion OF Resignlng.