The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-07
WILLIS REPORT A SECRET.
The Nature Of It's Contents Not Yet
DiVulsed.


the Provisional Governments Re-
tirement Would Only be Carrying
Out His Instruotions-If the Pro-
visional Government Refuses to Ao-
quiesce Willis Can Do Nothing Bee
yond Reporting the Fact to This
Government.
Washington, Jan. 6.-That Secretary
Gresham had heard from Hawaii was adj
mitted reluctantly at the state depart
ment to-day. This meager information,
which could be assumed IL not stated pos
ttiyely as a natural sequence of the Cor
wins arrival at San Francisco, was ac-
knowledged only after persistent ques-
tioning and then not directly. Secretary
Gresham clung to the jewel of consistency
by absolutely refusing to say anything
about Minister Willis or what he had
sent. Other officials said they had seen
nothing from Hawaii, VIII ich is probably
true, as Secretary Gresham has not been
taking any of his subordinates into his
confidence on the delicate situation in
Honolulu. All that could be learned was
that Minister Willis sent long dispatch,
and that it came in plain English, and
A natural Inference to be drawn from the
fact that 1t came in full is, that its inn
portance was not so great as to demand
secrecy in transmission, but this is noths
ing more than inference.
DoLE's RETIREMENT.
The story put in circulation that the
state department had informed the House
committee on foreign affairs that tha
Auckland dispatch statement that Min
ister Willis had demanded the retiremens
or the provisional government in favor OF
the queen was true is discredited by
Representative McCreary, chairman Of
the committees. He declined TO say any
thing as to the nature Of the dispatches
received at the state department from
Minister Willis, but to a fellow member
of the House who remarked to him that
he had heard that the Auckland dispatch
had been confirmed, Representative Nc
Creary sententiously remarked, "Don't
you bet on It,"
WILLIS ATTITUDE NOT CHANGED.
Mr.. McCreary said that in his opinion
the attitude of Minister Willis had nos
changed from that reported in congress
by President Cleveland. and that tho
President, in his message Of Dec 1s had
definitely left the matter In the hands Of
congress. This information was authen-
tically confirmed by prominent demo-
cratic member Of the committee on for
eign relations of the Senate. This sena-
tor, who Is said to have had conference
to-day with Secretary Gresham, stated
subsequently, that the only message the
Secretary had received was simply one an-
n0uncing the arrival Of the Corwin and
stating that dispatches had been for
warded by mail.
ONLY CARRYING OUT INSTRUCTIONS.
Senator Gray, when asked about the
~ "a -
another: what IL IL is truel The Presi-
dent In his message 10 congress told us
what his plans were and that they had
been checked by the refusal of the queen
to accept his conditions If the conditions
have been agreed TO, and Minister Will
lis makes the request of the provisional
government he is simply acting within
the line of his original instructions, and
there the matter ends. II the provisional
government refuses TO aoquiesce, Minister
Willis instructions are TO report TO this
government and there the matter ends
again. have no doubt that the Presi-
dent will send all his information to con-
Rress as soon as he receives it.n
NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT oBTAINABLE.
No statement TO be depended on as
truly accurate can be obtained concerning
the situation in Hawaii. An official,
whose position would place him in the
possession of any information obtained in
the dispatch sent Secretary Gresham by
Minister Willis, said tonight that MIR
Willis had informed the secretary that
the ex-queen had consented to the condi-
tions imposed by the administration to
secure its support in her restoration. and
that Minister Willis had asked the pro-
visional government TO step down and out
aud been with refusal.
Opposing this, gentleman who Is In
the confidence of the President and Sec
retary Gresham, and who saw the Sec
retary to-day with reference to the
Hawaiian restoration, says the Willis
telegram contained nothing more than a
statement that the situation was un-
changed and that a detailed report
from the minister had been forwarded
from. San Francisco by mail. This
information, he says, he obtained from
Secretary Gresham. The discrepancy in
the statements cannot be Strengthened
out by reference to Secretary Gresham,
for he refuses TO talk on the subject. Sec
retary Gresham had a long conference
with the President, arranging the form
of further Instructions TO Minister willis.
THE coRwIS INACCESSIBLE.
San Francisco, Jan. 6.-The revenue
cutter Corwin, tonight dropped her an
chor off San Quintan, about fifteen miles
north Of San Francisco, and twenty from
the Mare Island navy yard. If Capt.
Munger choose this anchorage on account
Of It's inaccessibility, his selection was
well made. All day the Corwin has been
watched by reporters, and attempts to
board her or TO hold conversation with
those on board have been absolutely
futile.
With the exception Of the officer who
landed yesterday with dispatches, not a
soul has left the ship up to the present
time, nor has any one from shore COM
municated with her.
About IL o'clock this morning steam
was gotten up, but anchor was not
weighed, and up 10 the time darkness
shut the Corwin out of sight there were
no signs of her moving.
The Mohican did not come down from
Mare Island to-day