The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-10-16

island of this group for station
for the Pacific cable. This island
he either wished coded to England
or he wished to secure a lease of it.
He has been informed that such an
act is not possible.
His mission is a success mas
much as he has learned that this
Government will do all in its power
to aid the cable project, and it is
said he will carry with him an offer
of a considerable subsidy. In con-
nection with the cable schemes the
following extract will be of interest :
From the London Times of Sept. II,
1884,
The protest which the Government
of New Zealand has thought it we'll
to invite the other colonies of Austria
lasia to join in making against the
so-called annexation of Neckar Island
by the Hawaiian Republic, is a
blunder of which the lesson ought not
to be missed. 1t illustrates the essen
tial difference which exists between
the direction of foreign affairs and the
administration of the colonies, and
serves to show the impracticability of
according to colonial governments in
relation to external affairs, the indie
pendence of action which has been so
freely and so wisely conceded in all
that relates to their internal self gov
eminent. Had Mr.. Seldom referred
his doubts on the subject of Neckar
Island in the first instance to the I'M
perial Government, he would have
learned that there could be no ques-
ton of annexation by Hawaii of an
island to which the claim of the Re-
public is not disputed.
Neckar Island is very insIgnifi-
cant rock, to which only the projected
scheme of the Pacific cable gives
either interest or importance. Until
the proposition was made to use il as
landing station for the cable, no
power had taken the trouble to ask to
whom it belonged
When inquiry was made, it was
found to fall within the limits claimed
by the Hawaiian Republic. The I'm
perial Government recognized the
claim, and the question passed i'm
mediately from discussion of sover-
eighty to matter of mutual convent
ence, by which, in the event of a
landing station for the cable being
required, some island suitable for the
purpose might be placed at the dis
posal of Great Britain. Naturally
the Hawaiian Government must re-
gard with interest a proposal to con-
struct a cable which will open to
Honolulu a chance of establishing
direct communication with the mar
kets of the world, and it is understood
that 1t has already expressed its will
ingness to cooperate in any manner
which may tend to further the pOssi-
bic realization of the scheme.
There is no reason to anticipate any
but the most friendly negotiation on
the subject, and under the eircum-
stances no great harm is likely to re-
suit from protest which will pre-
sumably be withdrawn.
But if course of action had been
selected for the purpose of impeding
the successful issue of the negotia-
tions, it would be difficult to imagine
one better calculated to achieve that
end that the course taken by New
Zealand.
NJ. Seddon's Government may plead
ignorance of the true circumstances of
the case. 1t is an ignorance which is
in its nature typical. The best in
formed Colonial Governments must
frequently be ignorant of the detail of
imperial relations with foreign pow
ers, and, however closely the inter
ests committed to their charge may
be affected, the only satisfactory way
of dealing with them is manifestly by