The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-20
THE HAWAIIAN MIDDLE
ANOTHER BATCH OF INFORMATION
FOB CONGRESS-.
Minister willis Reply to Dole's speci-
fications-He Endeavors to Show
the Friendly Attitude of
This Governments.


today transmitted to congress another
batch of Hawaiian correspondence,
including dispatches which arrived at
San Francisco February 10th, and
reached the state department Saturday
morning. Aside from portions already
published, it opens with letter from
Willis to Gresham, telling Of the cele-
bration of the first anniversary of the
provisional government January 18th,
and saying: ''None of the foreign rep
resentstives participated in the observ-
snce OF the day. No salutes were fred
from the American, English or Japanese
war vessels in port"
The matter OF chief interest in the
correspondence is President Dole's letter
to Willis, giving specifications as to the
attitude OF the United States towards
Hawaii, already published, to the effect
that it seemed to portend forcible restor-
alton, and Willis reply, which Willis
says will end the correspondence on the
subject.
Willis then replies specifically to the
charges made by Dole. He denies that
he said anything to delegation of the
American league which could be con-
strued as unfriendly. He reminds Dole
that President Cleveland had distinctly
announced that he would only act
within the constitutional limits OF the
executive power" which does not en-
brace a declaration of war, therefore
Willis claims that the idea that force
would be used in restoring the queen
was precluded.
Willis says that his communications
of political character with the queen
have been confined to three occasions.
In reply to Dole's statement that it
was the almost universal belief in
Honolulu that the United States naval
forces were about to be landed to en-
force President Cleveland'a policy,
Willis says that one month prior to the
time referred to the United States gov
eminent had given the provisional gov
eminent information which negatived
the idea of using force.
Willis continues: You quote from
my address of December 10th, submit
ting the views of the president upon
the Hawaiian question. l respectfully
suggest that there is in his address no
intimation as to the use OF force. Your
paragraph 81 states: Upon the 23d Of
December l replied to the foregoing
communication in the negative. Up to
the time OF sending you my communi-
cation of December 9th no further
communication had been received by
me from you, and no assurance had been
! received that force was not to be used,
nor what your further instructions were
concerning this government
"Let me call your attention to the
fact that at the tirne your answer was
delivered l notified you that l would
forward it to Washington, and that
nothing would be done by me until fur
Their instructed. To this your reply
was: THAT will be very satisfactory to
our people,"
Willis Gays his refusal to accept social
official courtesies was prompted by the
friendliest motive, and was intended
to leave all persons, after the disclosure
OF the views of my government, free and
unembarrassed to determine Tor them
selves the relations they desired to hold
to me and my family"
Willis answered the charges OF Dole,
seriatim, showing that the proper con-
struction of all his acts since Willis
arrival on the islands, was that they
were in the interests of peace and good
order, ana cOuIu nOI pe ConbtEucu 10
indicate an indication OF the use of
force for the restoration of the deposed
queen.
Willis says he stated to a member OF
the provisional government that he had
no intention to intervene by force in
affairs there, but if the provisional
government desired, ne would as
sist in putting down disorder;
that the drilling on board the United
States navel vessels in the harbor seen
by the Hawaiian citizens on certain
occasion, was merely the regular prac-
tice drill required by the United States
naval regulations, and had nothing
whatever to do with the Hawaiian sit
uation.
Willis accompanies his letter with
one from the admiral of the fleet at
Hawaii, corroborating Willis statement
in this regard