The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-21
DICKERING WITH HAWAII.
TWO BRTIISH COMMISSIONERS ARE
SEEKING CONCESSIONS.

| The New Repusus neetines - Cess Asy
Lsss ts Grsss pritsir for Csbie ~ Cssi
lag entertainments. senti-sut n
SIN vsry Strore In All the Isisnss
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 20.-The United Prens
correspondent at Honolulu writing under data
OF Oct. 10 says;
"Two Commissioners recently arrived at
Honolulu for the purpose of negotiating with
the Hawaiian Government for concessions for a
projected cable between British Columbia and
Australia They were Sanford Fleming. repre-
scnting Canada, and Mr.. Mercer Of the British
Foreign Office. Yesterday a special confer
ence with the Government took place. One Of
the propositions concerned the possible occupa-
ton OF Neckar Island rs a cable station. They
also discussed with the Government the ques-
ton Of concessions for landing a cable near
Honolulu. The attitude Of the Government in
replying to the Commissioners was adverse to
making special concessions of any sort owing TO
prior, exclusive treaty engagements with the
United States. Their position, as given by q
leading member Of the Government last night. Is
as follows:
I'VE are positively bound by our treaty Of
reciprocity with the United States not 10 make
any concessions whatever OF land or OF special
rights to any other Government whatsoever;
we are not at liberty 20 lease land to the
British Government for any purpose. We wish
to be extremely scrupulous about this. 80 there
can be no pretext for the United states abro.
eating this treaty. The British Government
can lease land Of private parties for cable pur-
poses, but they can have no special privileges,
They cannot make a cable station ut Neckar
Island. rs that IL Government property. There
are no available islets III the chain tn which Iia-
wall has not established a claim. Some have
not been formally occupied. rs the islands form
natural continuation OF the group. but Eng.
land does not contest our rights IN them, ana
the United States has fully recognized these
rights.
q gentleman who was employed In the survey
department In 1885 for the purpose Of gaining
information about Bird Island and it's ndapta-
n rather barren rock. $50 miles from Honolulu.
with an area of about 800 acres. A cable landing
could be made on this island, but rain water
no water on the island. 1t would be impossible
to create n coaling station owing to the height
OF the cliffs above the landing the steepncss Of
the ground, lack of anchorage for lighters, and
the unusual roughnesso " the sea There is strong
ground for the opinion that the Commissioners
do not really desire 70 occupy any western islet
lulu II they can secure special concessions.
There seems to be no doubt that England will
be compelled to accept Oahu as her coaling
station.
THE British war shin Hyacinthe sailed this
morning for Bird Island to make soundinRs and
examine landings for possible coaling station.
"A meeting Of delegates of the American
Union party will convene this afternoon TO
nominate Senators and Representatives TO be
elected on Oct 90: No other ticket Is likely to
plank in the platform. Candidates on the other
Islands are less clearly pledged to annexation
Many OF the planters are y, opp9sSd TO as SenE
i Asiatic at present. It Is probable, however
that strong majority OF the coming Legislature
s1PPRTs to Emsen hey hoi
the subject Ia allegiance pending the views OF
the URted States Government"