The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-16
They Could Not Secure a Statement
From the Administration.
AT ONE TIME, THE WAR SHIPS
WERE READY TO LAND MEN.

Minister Thurston Forced to Go to the
Newspapers for Announcements Con-
How Gresham Evaded His Question
willis's Course After His Arrival in the
Islands-Other Hawaiian News.
San Francisco, February 15.-The text
of President Dole's reply to the Willis re-
quest for specifications was made public
for the first time in Honolulu just before
the steamer Alameda sailed. 1t is dated
January II. Mr.. Dole says: 81 desire to
say in reply to your communication of
the first instant that made no charges
against the United States or it's repre-
sentatives. In order that there might be
no misapprehension concerning the mat
ter, specifically stated to you in the
communication of the 27th ultimo, I do
not claim or intimate that the unfortu-
nate situation has been Intentionally
created by you or the government which
you represent still disclaim any in
tention of charging you or the govern
ment with the intent to produce the re-
suits and conditions described in my
communication of December %. The
object of my communication was to for
mally bring to your attention certain
facts and conditions existing in this
country and obtain from you such infor-
nation and assurances as would tend to
allay the prevailing exeite.:ent and ap-
prehension."
Nj. Dole expressed qualification at Mr..
Willis's assurance that the latter's COM
munication of December 30. was
prompted by no improper motive or un-
friendly spirit, and says that all COM
munications from the provisional govern
ment were written in friendly spirit.
Mr.. Dole gives substantially as follows,
twenty eight specifications concerningthe
words and actions OF the United States
and It's DISQUALIFICATION which.its in
tention toward the provisional govern
ment must be inferred:
1.-The treaty Of annexation was with
drawn by President Cleveland immedi-
ately upon entering Office without prior
notice to the provisional government or
giving any reason for such action.
2.-The President appointed Hon. j A.
Blount as special commissioner to Hawaii
without the knowledge of the repreenta-
tive of the provisional government at
Washington and the Secretary of State
mission or even to admit that COM
missioner had been appointed.
3.-The Secretary of State made no re-
ply to Minister Thureton' S letter of June
IS, 1898, asking for information as to the
intentions of the United States govern
ment concerning the annexation of
Hawaii.
4.-Upon the arrival in Hawaii of Mr..
Blount, he did not in any manner inGi-
mate to the Hawaiian government that
his Investigations would be directed to-
ward the right of the existence of the
government to which he was accredited.
ALI his Investigations and examinations
were private and such persons were only
examined as he chose to call.
5.-In Mr.. Blount's report are state
ments by, approximately, sixty royalists
and twenty supporters of the provisional
government. He obtained no statement
from the four members of the cabinet
who stepped out before the revolutionary
Attempt of the Queen.
although he obtained exclusive state
ments from their royalists successors. He
examined only two of the thirteen men
of the committee of Safety, one of the
original four embers of the executive
council of the provisional government,
three Of the original fourteen members
of the advisory council, two of the eight
speakers who addressed the mass meet
ing called by the committee of safety
for the establishment of the provisional
government, one of the eight field and
staff officers, none of the eleven line
officers in command of the forces of the
provisional government, and none of the
five commissioners sent to Washington.
All such men not examined were wit
nesses of and active participants in the
overthrow Of the monarchy and all men
her of those examined on the royalist
side were of irresponsible character.
6.-On May Is, 1893. Mr.. Blount, with
out drst communicating to the provision
al government his instructions or inten-