Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-12

any such action on your part in view of your Off
cia relations with this government would seem
impossible, but as the information has come to
me from such sources that / am compelled to
notice it, you will pardon me for pressing you for
an immediate answer
Grafton with which | have the honor to be- sir,
Your obedient humble servant
SANFORD b. DOLE
Minister of foreign affairs.
His Excellency, A. S. Willis.
To this Mr. Willis replied that he had
an important communication to make from
bis government, and at 80 Tuesday he
visited President Dole for an interview,
all the ministers of the provisional govern
ment and stenographer being present.
At this interview Mr.. Willis rehearsed the
belief of President Cleveland that the pro-
visional government was not established
by the Hawaiian people, or with their CON
sent, and that the Queen abdicated only
because she feared the use of force by the
then American minister Also that Mr..
Cleveland is convinced, after reading Mr..
BlOunt's report, that the movement against
the Queen, if not instigated was encour-
aged and accomplished by the course of the
American minister; that he promised his
aid to the enemies of the Queen in ad-
vance, and fulfilled his promise by landing
the troops.
Mr.. Willis then went on to say that he
had been instructed to inform the Queen
that President Cleveland felt it to be the
duty of the United States to undo this
wrong to the Hawaiian community, but
first he should expect her to pursue a
magnanimous course and grant full am
nesty to all who had taken part in the
movement against her. At this point Mr..
Willis presented a written agreement,
signed by the Queen, to accept these terms
and pursue such course
Mr.. Willis handed a copy of this agree
ment to Mr.. Dole, and continued: "lt be-
comes my further duty to advise you that
you are expected to promptly relinquish to
the Queen her constitutional authority,
and submit to you the question, Are you
willing to abide by the decision of the
President?'
President Dole replied: "The govern
ment will take the matter under consider
alton and answer you as soon as they are
ready"
This ended the conference.
December 20 and II were occupied by
President Dole and his cabinet in formu-
lating their reply to this demand. Early
on the morning of the 22d the Alameda
arrived from San Francisco, and the news
which she brought and the arrival of Min
lister Thurston produced an immediate
change in the feelings of both parties.
On the afternoon of the 23d the advisory
council assembled to hear the draft of Mr.
Dole's reply to Minister Willis. 1t was
approved without material changes. Mr.
Willis was notified that the answer would
be delivered to him in the course of the
night. Steam was at once got up on the
Corwin and anchor hove short The reply
in duplicate reached the minister at \. NJ.
The Corwin sailed at 8: 80 with a copy for
President Cleveland The text of the re-
ply is kept secret, but it is known that the
provisional government refuses to acCede
to the demand TO surrender to the Queen,
and denonces in the strongest terms the
falsehood that Stevens was ever asked to
have his forces assist in the revolution or
that he ever did So "The provisional gov
eminent the answer says, "is response
BILE only to those who constituted and are
now maintaining it in power. 1t is amen
able to no foreign power on earth. 1t has
always been faithful to its constituents,
and by no acts or intimation has ever Of
fered to submit its rights to the United
States or any other power. For these rea-
sons this government must refuse to con-
slider the proposition of Minister Willis"
\ brief correspondence took place be-
tween President Dole and Minister Willis
after the sailing of the COrwin, President
| Dole called Minister Willis's attention to
the continued state of apprehension in the
community caused by his apparently men
acing attitude, and asked if he could not
| give him some assurance which would re-
lieve this injurious fear Mr., Willis re-
piled evasively that the inquiry did not
seem to be specific. Mr.. Dole answered
! on the 27th that the Presidents message
| transmitted to Congress, received that day,
relieved the public mind and had obviated
the need of further inquiry, Mr. Willis
had expressed much irritation beause Mr.
| Dole had made this inquiry.
During the interval, while the answer
to Mr.. Willis was being prepared, the gov,
ernment and citizens We're actively engag
ed in strengthening their defences and pre-
| pairing to resist any attack.