The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-17
PEARL RIVER HARB0R
Is Under Absolute Dominion
of Uncle Sam.
LODGES STATEMENTS CORRECTED
Our Country's Position Outlined by
MIR. Edmunds, the Author Of the
Amendment TO the Hawaiian Reci-
procity Treaty Our Rights Perpetual
BY The Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, March 17-Ex-Senator
Edmunds Of Vermont, who is the author
pf the amendment to the Hawaii recip-
rocity treaty by which the United States
acquired Pearl river harbor as a coal sta
tion, gave an interview on the rights OF
the United States TO that station. He
said:
II am sorry to see that Senator Lodge
appears from newspaper reports TO be
under the impression that the grant OF
Pearl river harbor by the Hawaiian gov
ernment to the United States was limited
only to seven years, durjng which
Hawaiian sugar, etc. were 70 be intro
duced into the United States duty free.
And am surprised at what is reported to
be the contention OF President Dole TO the
same effect
IL regret that proceedings OF the senate
I'm considering and ratifying the last con-
vention with Hawaii have not been made
public, but without violating any duty of
confidence, 1 can say that the convention
was agreed upon between Frelinghuysen
and Carter. the Hawaiian minister, on
Dec. 9. 1884, and soon afterwards sent to
the senate for consideration.
An Explanatory Clause.
"The senate did not advise the ratifica-
tion until Jan. 90 1887. Evidently there
was difficulty in the senate In respect OF
allowing further introduction of free
sugar, and that at last, for some reason
which lam not at liberty TO state the de-
tail OF, the senate agreed to ratify with
one most important additional clause,
which appears as article of the conven-
tion as published in the statutes. That
article is in these words:
His majesty. King of the Hawaiian Islands,
grants to the government OF the United States
the exclusive rights to enter the harbor Of
Pearl river in the island or Oahu, and TO es-
tablish and maintain there n coaling and re-
pair station for the use of vessels of the United
States. and TO that end the United States may
improve the entrance TO said harbor and do
all other things needful for the purpose afore-
said.
1T will be seen that it was positive
and unlimited grant in PRESENT. from one
political community having perpetual ex-
stence to another, and therefore neces-
yarily both in its literal and general sense
perpetual right. which became then and
'orever the absolute and exclusive prop
irty OF the United States.
Substantial Argument.
''It is certain, therefore, that the United
States have and will continue to have
until they choose to part with it (Which l
hope will never occur) the absolute and
exclusive dominion of Pearl hsrbor for
the purpose named in the article / have
mentioned.
Whether the United States will be
guilty of a moral wrong in imposing
duties on Hawaiian sugar, etc, before the
expiration of the convention on the proper
notics of l2 months after next November,
is quite different matter, and to which,
of course, there can be only one answer.
But that now and hereafter, whatever
else may happen. the United States are
the lawful masters of the key OF the
Pacific is fact which all nations inter
ested should perfectly understand, for
Pearl river harbor in the possession Of
our government for the purposes named
gives us the mastery"
Does the remission Of duties on sugars
from other countries In any way invali-
date the Hawaiian treatyr was asked.
mo; IL does not; at least Hawaii has no
right to complain Of anything, either in
imposing or taking off duties on the
products of other countries"