The National tribune., 1894-02-15
A QUESTION OF yER.cITy.

question OF veracity has arisen between
The latter gave President Dole the following
report of an interview he had with Secretary
Gresham Nov. a.
Mr. Thurston then said: i wish. then. 10 fur
ther ask whether il Is The intention OF the United
States Government to carry out its policy therein
indicated by force; or. in other words whether If
the Provisional Government declines 10 accede to
the request OF the United States Government TO
vscate in favor of the Queen, United States troops
will be used 10 enforce the requesl7'
ITO which Mr.. Gresham replied:
80 am not at liberty at present to answer that
question. II is matter concerning which will
speak to the President. and talk with you more
fully this afternoon
In the afternoon Of the same day Mr. Gresham
further said to Mr.. Thurston:
- have already answered Your first question
to the effect that the letter published Secretary
Gresham to the President) authentic and a
correct statement Of the policy Of the United
States As to your second question rs TO whether
force is TO be used by the United States To rest ore
the Queen, all that liberty to state is that
Mr.. Willis has no instructions TO DO anything
which will cause injury to life property of any
one at the Islands Further than this am not at
draw your own differences from my statement and
allay any apprehension which may have been
eau ed by what has been published
Mr.. Thnrston further said to MIR. Gresham:
Your answer does not convey the information
which requested. What desire is TO obtain in-
formation which will guide my Government in
their action. IL they know that force is TO be used
by you. their OF action viii necessarily lie
different from what 1t otherwise would be- The
.fute inf frat, .I,a
use force may be the means of preventing them
from using force and causing bloodshed'
To which Mr.. Gresham replied:
GO Our relations in the past have been pleasani
and want them 10 continue to he so in the future
and to be perfectly courteous to you. but cannot
at present answer you more fully than have
done
Secretary Gresham gives this version of
what occurred:
On the forenoon of Nov IA Hon. L. A. Thurs
ton, Minister of the Provisional Government of
Hawaii. called at the State Department for an in
tervew with the Secretary Of State The Hawaiian
question. The Minister Informed by the Sec
Rotary that It was nbout time for "A Cabinet meet
ing, and he under the necessity Of requesting
the Minister to call again at o'clock in the after
noon. He replied that lie would do So but before
| leaving desired to submit two questions TO the
Secretary: First, was the letter addressed by the
Secretary to the President about Hawaii and ,l,e
| Provisional Government and printed In the papers
| few days ago authentic aud official? Second IL
| 1t was and he presumed 1t wa, was 1t the Presi-
dents intention to force IL need be against The
| Provisional Government in restoring the Queen?
"The Secretary replied that the letter was
| authentic. but not having time TO spend with the
Minister just then he could repeat the questions on
| calling iu the afternoon.
The Minister called at the appointed hour and
| the Secretary informed him that the letter nd
| dressed to the President was authentic and that
| no action had been or would be taken by our Min
| ister Mr.. Willis. which would imperii the lives
and property of the officers and supporters of the
Provisional Government, and that If they suffered
in any way it would be in consequence of their own
| acts attitude.
| "The interview continued:
| "Minisier-Mr. Secretary. that answer is not sat
isfactory. and / would be glad il you would be
| more explicit.
| "Secretary-I cannot be more explicit AT this
| time. You can draw your own differences from
what have said and correct any false as
! that may have been created by what has been pub
| lisbed. answered the second question in the un
! derscored language. beginning with the words no
action and ending with the word attitude from
slip of paper which lay my table in plain view
| before me. did not say In either interview that
was not at liberty to answer either question"
IL is clear to any one that the Secretary
is hedging and garblipg. He is trying to
make over the record of November to suit
the changed aspect in February. But he
only makes his own pettiness and malice
more apparent There cannot be the slight
est doubt that he intended to use force TO re-