The herald., 1894-01-06
WHAT HAS WILLIS DOKE2
The All-Absorbing Question
at Washington.
Great Anxiety in Congressional
Circles.
The Report from Honolulu via Auck
land Discredited.
IL Willis Has Requested the Surrender
of the Dole Government 1t Was
Contrary to His Latest
Instructions.

BY the Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The Associated
Press cable from Auckland, announcing
that Minister Willis had notified the
provisional government to retire, as the
queen bad agreed to grant amnesty. has
been the absorbing topic in congression-
al circles today. Word came from the
state department to the foreign affairs
committee, but as no mention was made
OF the minister's reported action. the
information was doubted by Chairman
McCreary, Raynor and others of the
foreign affairs committee. McCreary
said it would give a most startling turn
to the situation if it proved true. Hit,
Republican leader of the foreign affairs
committee, eaid il Willis had taken the
action reported, it would precipitate a
tempest. The president had turned the
whole suhject over to congress. and vel
before Willis had learned of this course
he had executed policy already aban-
doned. THE would be particularly seri-
Gus If the minister's action had led to
blocdshed.
CONGREssMRN EXCITED.
There is intense anxiety in congress
sionel circles for further news OF the
reported course OF the minister, and it
led to the circulation of wild and
groundless rumors ON the floor of the
house that rioting had begun in the
streets of Honolulu. The state depart
ment is not inclined to credit the state
lnents as to Willis action. Such action
.rr rnfA A, koll k~.r ~. ha
instructions sent Willis by the Corwin
and received by him December 11th.
That he could have written to the pro-
visional government after he had re-
ceived those instructions, requesting
that they surrender office, is denied
with strong emphasis at the state de-
partment, and the expressions in the
presidents message in this connection
are pointed to as reiuting the state
ment.
Ar THE HAWAIIAN LEGATION.
The statements contained in the dis
patch seemed to cause no uneasiness or
excitement at the Hawaiian legation.
They are not inclined to believe Willis
has taken further steps to restore the
queen. The HawaiiRns do not think
nesty to the provisional government
would make any difference in the status
OF things. The information leads them
to believe Lihuokalani would fear to ac-
cept restoration, without guarantee OF
protection, and they feel confident such
q guarantee would now be impossible.
WILLIS INSTRUCTIONS.
1t will be remembered that in Gres-
hams instructions to Willis, the follow
ing occurs: "Should the queen accept
the conditions and the provisional gov
eminent refuse to surrender, you
will be governed by previous
instructions" 1t will be seen
from this that if the provisi onal
government refused to yield without
force, Wills's latest Instructions pre-
vent mis- going further. In the event
the queen should accept the conditions,
however, Willis is to be governed by
previous instructions. His previous
instructions were to notify the pro-
visional government. which had not
yet been done, if the queen acceded to
tie conditions. So far as the public is
informed, there is nothing in the in
structions to preclude Willis from hav-
ing proceeded on these lines toward the
provisional government.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS POLICY.
1t is understood that Congressman
Raynor of Maryland of the committee
on foreign affairs has received commu
nication from Gresham outlining the
policy OF the administration in the Ha-
wsilan matter. Raynor declines posi-
lively to give the contents of the letter,
or even to admit it's receipt. 1t is un-
derstood among congressman that Ray
nor has been in communication with
the president and the state department
for some time, and has been designated
to outline the policy of the administra-
ton on the floor OF the house in reply to
Boutelle.