The record-union., 1894-02-20
sneclal to the RECORD UNION.

transmitted to Congress another batch of
Hawaiian correspondence, including the
dispatches which arrived from San Fran
cisco February 10th, and which reached
the State Department Saturday morning.
Aside from the portions already pub
lished, it opens with q letter from Willis
to Gresham. telling of the celebration of
the first anniversary of the Provisional
Government, January 18th, and saying:
None of the foreign representatives par
ticipated in the observance OF the day.
No salutes were fired from the American,
British or Japanese war vessels in port.
The representatives Of foreign Govern
ments acted upon the instructions from
their own Governments and upon their
own responsi bility, with the distinct dis
avowal on the part of the representative
OF the United States that its action was
either intended or desired to control
theirs.'
The matter of chief interest in the cor
respondence is President Dole's letter to
Willis giving specifications as to the at
titude of the United States toward
Hawaii, and already published, to the
effect that it seemed to portend forcible
restoration, and Willis reply, which
Willis says will end correspondence on
the subject.
Willis begins his reply to Dole by say
ing: The only question Of practical
importance arising out OF the present
correspondence is whether United States
war vessels were at the time your letter
was written Objectionable to your Govern
ment. Certain language which seemed
to convey that idea was IN the subsequent
note of January 18th Withdrawn, thus, as
I am pleased to know, leaving their
peaceful and friendly purpose without
question. In addition to the above were
statements which were, as thought. un-
lust, III that the sole responsibility TOR the
recent disturbed condition of this COM
munity was attributed to me as the dl
plOmatic agent of the United States. In
your last communication you expressly
disclaim any intention of charging me or
my Government with intent to produce
the results or conditions described in the
communication of December 9th. Your
first letter contains q similar assurance,
coupled with the statement that your
Government is reluctant to believe this
condition OF affairs was contemplated or
expected by yourself or by the President
Of the United States
'In view of the above, reply to your
last communication may not be necessary
nor would one be made except from the
desire that my Government may have the
good will and friendship of the people for
whom you speak"
Continuing, Willis says he is not at lib
erty to discuss matters occurring before
his arrival, except to say they were not
given unfriendly construction at the
time. Touching the interview published
in a local paper November 10th, quoted
from by Dole in his letter, Willis points
out that the facts were that on November
18th Damon, Minister of Finance, came
to the United States Legation, saying
there were rumors OF an attack that night
or the next on the Government building,
and the guard had been increased. Willis
told Damon that the Japanese Consul and
British Minister had requested him to
undertake the protection Of their people
from apprehended mob violence, also
friends of the Queen. in view OF this
Willis said to Damon: 81 do not wish to
interfere in any way with your domestic
affairs, except with your approval. Ii
you do not object, however, L will pub
licly announce that the United States will
cooperate TO prevent mob violence"
Damon expressed pleasure at Willis atti-
tude in the matter then and afterward.
Later Dole himself expressed approval
and satisfaction at what had occurred.
1t was generally accepted as having had
an excellent effect.
Willis adds: 'The action taken was
meant and understood at the time as III
the interest of peace, humanity and good
order, and will, after this explanation, no
longer, | hope, be considered evidence of
hostility"
Willis denies that he said anything to
the delegation OF the American League
November 18th which could be construed
as unfriendly. Willis refers to the re-
vocation, on Novemb ber 18th, by the Pro-
visional Government of permission for
United States forces to land for drill. He
says no reason was given and he knows
of none, but the revocation was respected
and no armed United States soldiers have
landed since for that or any other pur-
pose. He reminds Dole that under the
Constitution of the United States Con-
gress alone can declare war, and as the
President of the United States distinctly
announced he would only act within the
constitutional limits OF the Executive
power" he precluded the idea of using
force and affirmed his declaration of No
vember lst, delivered through Secretary
Gresham, not ''to do anything which
would cause injury to life or properly of
anyone at the islands,"
AS to visiting citizens, referred to in
Doles letter, who witnessed drills and
other warlike preparations on board
United States vessels. Willis says: Their
apprehension would have been promptly
allayed by the information that what they
saw that Friday they could see any third
Friday in the month, it being the usual
squadron routine drill, viz: Boat drill,
fire party, arm and away, requiring the
packing of knapsacks and other prepara-
tions which you detail"
Willis appends the letter from Admiral
Irwin, who says: mo different prepara-
tions for landing ever have been made
since | assumed command of this squad
ron than those made by my predecessor.
Admiral Skerritt, which were intended to
suppress riot and protect the lives and
property of Americans and Englishmen."
As 30 the stoppage of shore leave he ex
plains: Il did, as matter OF precaution,
suspend liberty to the crews until | could
ascertain whether it would be prudent to
permit them to land without danger of
ing satisfied myself on that poirt, which
l did in less than an hour, the order was
revoked by telephone.
"On the 18th of December, as the excite
ment on shore was very great, and as
quite a mob had gathered at our usual
landing, / gave orders for our officers to
wear their uniforms on shore, which is
the usual precautlon taken in foreign
countries in times of great public excite
ment. 1t is proper to add that had been
informed by Captain Rookie of the British
cruiser Champion that he had given a
similar order. The great guns of the
Philadelphia and the Adams have never
been loaded since their last target practice
at sea. Usual harbor drills have been
kept up as required by the regulations,
the exception being that our men have