Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-15
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, }
HONOLULU, Dec. 13. 1893,
NIsIr,sehf 4

1 Sir-PreSldent Dole has Just 0ellve3ed
/ in person at this hour (midnight) the
answer of the provisional government, de-
clining for reasons therein stated to &C
| cept the decision of the president Of the
| United States. a copy of which is herewith
enclosed
The revenue cutter Corwin is under
sailing orders and will leave mere IN a
| few minutes for San Francisco. The cap
tain has been instructed to slow up if
necessary and enter the harbor of San
Francisco at night, and to deliAer in per
son the dispatches No. H. Is, Ii, IL, Is
and 10 to our despatch agent at that place.
| The object of this is to enable the presi-
dent to receive these official communica-
tions before any information of their char
acter can be telegraphed.
Iwillon Tuesday acknowledge the re
ceipt of the answer of the provisional
government, notifying it that the Presi-
dent of the United States will be informed
thereof. and that no further steps shall
be taken by me until have heard from
him. shall deliver similar communi-
cation to the queen.
The very great excitement prevailing
here and the peculiar conditions sur
course. which trust will meet with the
appreciation of the president and of your
self.
think it proper to acknowledge in this
public way the efficient service rendered
to the government of the United States by
our consnl general, Mr.. Mills, since my
arrival at this place. l have. etc,
ALBERT $. WILLIS.
pracs1apt nnla'c raply fp the United
States minister's demand is as follows;
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
HONOLULU, Dec. s23 1888
SIR-Your excellency's communication
of Dec. 10, announcing the conclusion
which the President of the United States
of America has finally arrived at. respect
ing the application of this government
for a treaty of political union with that
country and referring also to the domes-
tic affairs of those islands, has had the
consideration of the government.
While it is with deep disappointment
that we learn that the important proposi-
tion which we have submitted to the gov
ernment of the United States. and which
was at first favorably considered by it has
at length been rejected. we have expert
enced sense of relief that we are now
favored with the first official information
upon the subject that has been received
through period of over nine months.
While we accept the decision of the
president of the United States declining
further to consider the annexation propO-
sition as the final conclusion of the present
administration, we do not feel inclined to
regard it as the last word of the American
government upon this subject, for the his
tory of the mutual relations of the two
countries. of American effort and in
fuence in building up the Christian civil
ization which has conspiclously aided in
giving this country an honorable place
among independent nations, the geo
graphical position of these islands, and
the important, and to both countries,
profitable reciprocal commercial interests
which have long existed, together with
our weakness as sovereign nation, all
point with convincing force to political
union between the two countries as the
necessary logical result from the circum-
stances mentioned.
The additional portion of your com
muEicatiOn referring to our domestic af-
fairs with view of interfering therein, is
a new departure in the relation of the two
governments. Your information that the
president of the United States expects this
government Ito promptly relinquish to
her" meaning the eX-queen, ''her consti-
tutional authority with the question.
Are you willing to abide by the decision
of the PRESIDENT" Might well be dis
missed in a single word, but for the cir
cumstance that your communication
contains, as it appears to me. misstate-
ments and erroneous conclusions based
thereon that are so prejudicial TO this |
government that it cannot permit them
to pass unchalenged; moreover the inn
portance and menacing character of this |
proposition make it appropriate for me TO
discuss somewhat fully the questions |
raised by it. We do not recognize the |
right of the president of the United |
States to interfere in our domestic affairs. |
My position is briefly this: II the Amer |
lean forces illegally assisted the revolu |
tionists in the establishment of the pro- |
visional government that government is |
not responsible for their wrong doing 1t |
was purely private matter for discipline |
between the United States government |
and it's officers. There is, / submit. no |
precedent in international law for the |
theory that such action by American |
troops has conferred upon the United |
States authority over the internal |
affairs of this government. Should it be |
true, as vou have suggested. that the |
American government made itself respon- |
sible to the queen, who, it is alleged. lost |
her throne through such action, that is |
not for me to discuss, except to submit |
that il such should be the case, it is |
matter for the American government and |
her to settle between themselves. This |
government. a recognized sovereign I
power, equal in authority with the United |
States government, and enjoying diplo-
matte relations with it, cannot be de-
s.royed by it for the sake of discharging
its obligations to the ex-queen.
Upon these grounds, Mr.. Minister, in
behalf of my government ] respectfully |
protest against the usurpation Of its ,
authority as suggested by the language OF
your communication.
President Dole here entered upon a suc-
cinct account of the events in Kalakaua's |
reign which led to the revolution and new