The Globe-republican., 1894-01-19
or later IT viii be crowned with success to the

or later It viii be crowned with success to the
lasting benefit Of both countries
The additional portion of your communica-
ti0L referred to our domestic affairs with
view OF interfering therein il . new departure
in the relations OF the two governments Your
information that the president o; the United
States expects this government to promptly
relinQuish authority with the question: Are
you willing to abide By the decision OF the pres
ident?" might well be dismissed in single
word but for the circumstances that your COM
mun.cation Contains, as it appears to me, mis-
statements and erroneous conclusion based
thereon that are SO prejudicial to this govern
ment that / cannot permit them to pass IN
challenged Moreover, the importance and
menacing character Of this proposition make 1t
appropriate for me to discuss somewhat fully
the question raised by it.
We do not recognize the right OF the presi-
dent of the United States to interfere In our
domestic affairs. Such right could be conferred
upon him by the act Of this government and by
that alone, or il could be acquired by conquest
This, understand to be the American doctrine
conspicuousiy announced srom time to time by
the authorities Il your government Pres1-
dent Jackson said in his message to congress in
1885: The uniform policy and practice OF the
United States is to avoid all interference in
disputes which mostly relate to the internal
government of other nations and eventually to
recognize the authority Of the prevailing partT
without reference to the merits OF the original
controversy"
This principle of International law has been
consistently recognized during the whole past
intercourse OF The two countries and was re-
Gently reconfrmed in the instructions given by
Secretary Gresham to Commissioner Blount
on March II, 1897, and BY the latter published
in the newspapers in Honolulu in letter OF his
own to the Hawaiian public. The words OF
these instructions, which refer TO. are as iol-
lows: 1.-The United States claim 70 right TO In
terfere in the political or domestic affairs or in
the internal conflicts OF the Hawaiian Islands
other than as herein stated referring to the
protection of American cit:Zens) or for The
purpose OF maintaining any treaty or other
rights which they possess
The treaties between the two countries con-
fer no right Of interference Upon what. then,
Mr. Minister does the president Of the United
States base his right r. interference: Your
communication is without Information upon
this point. excepting such as may be con aimed
in the following brief and vague sentences:
..She (the ex -queen) was advised and assured
by her ministers and leaders OF the movement
for the overthrow Of her government that
il she surrendered under protest her
case would afterwards be fairly con-
sidered by the president Of the United
States The queen finally yielded to
tered in Honolulu, relying on the good faith
and honor of the president when informed OF
what had occurred, to undo the action OF the
minister and reinstate her in the authority
which she claimed as the constitutional SOver-
egn of Hawaiian islands" Also. 1T becomes
my further duty to advise you sir, the execu-
tive of the provisional government, and your
ministers OF the presidents determination OF
the question why our action and that OF the
queen devolveG upon him, and that you are ex-
pected to promptly relinQuish to her her con-
stitutional authority"
1 understand that the first quotation is re-
ferred to in the following words of the second
"Why our action and that OF the queen de-
voved upon him. Uhe president of the United
States), and that the president has arrived
at his conclusions from Commissioner
Blount's report We have had as yet no op-
portunity of examining this document, but
from extracts published in the papers and for
reasons set forth hereafter, we are not dis
posed to submit the fate Of Hawaii to its
statements and conclusions AS matter OF
fact, no member Of the executive OF the pro-
visional government has conferred with the
ex-aueen either verbally or otherwise from the
time the new government was proclaimed till
now with the exception OF one or two notices
which were sent to her bv myself in regard to
her removal from the palace and relating to
the guards which the government first allowed
her and perhaps others Of q like nature.
infer that a conversation which Mr.. Damon,
a member of the advisory council, is reported
BY Mr. Blount to have had with the ex-Queen
on January II. and which has been quoted In
the newspapers is the basis Of this astounding
claim Of the president of the United States OF
his authority to adjudicate upon our right as a
government to exist Mr.. Damon on the &C.
casion mentioned. was /, lowed to accompany
the cabinet of the former government which
had been in conference with US What Mr..
Damon said to the ex-queen ne said on his III.
dividual authority and did not report 1t to u.s.
After quoting correspondence already
published President Dole says:
am instructed to inform you, Mr.. Minister
that the provisional government of the Ha-
waiian islands respectfully and unhesitatingly
declines to entertain the proposition Of the
president of the United States that it should
surrender its authority to the ex-Queen
This answer is made. not only upon the
grounds hereinbefore set forth. but upon our
sense of duty and loyalty to the brave men
whose commissions We hold. who have faith
fully stood by US in the hour Of trial and whose
will is the only earthly authority we recognize.
We cannot betray the sacred trust they have
placed in our hands, q trust which is the cause
Of Christian civilization in the interests Of the
whole people of these islands.
SANFORD B. DOLE.
Minister of Foreign Office