New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-11
DIPLOMATIC "FRANKNESS.'
SECRETARY GREsHAMS LETTER RECALLS
A THING OR TWO TO MIND.
MR.. THuRsToN AND HIS COVERT USE OF 1NFLC'
ENcE" COMPARED WITH THE ANTICS OF
MINISTER wILLIs-HrsTORY SHOWS
THAT 1T MAKES DIFFERENCE
WHOSE OK Is GORE

WHOSE OK ID OONED.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrNEl
Washington May l0.--In the light OF certain past
Incidents II seems altogether unfortunate for the
Administration that Secretary Greshams letter OF
February q 10 Minister Willis In regard TO MINIS
ter Thurstors diplomatic indiscretion, shou'd ever
have reached its destination. The references III
tho last paragraph OF the letter to the surprise
and dissatisfaction with which this Government -
,ha. is the Government OF the United states
"ratural,v regards the conduct of foreign envoy
who covertly Uses his influence -"covertly' mind
vou-and the expression Of the desire OF 'he ircS'-
dent.-that is President Ceveand-to nave MI
Thurston replaced by another Minister from ma
wall in whom he may feel that confidence ""''
"a essential TO frank and cordial intercourse -
frank" mind you-a these phrases seem 10 re-
III .or,o,hinp The letter addressed 70 Mt
willis and appears ut last TO have reached h'ni'
This Mr. Willis Is the United states minister 10
Hawaii, where he has been stationed since carry
4, November 1893. He was then accrcdi'eu 10 '"e
Provisional Government and has remained since
tho establishment and recognition OF the Hawaiian
pe,uhlc He DID not bear credentials TO any other
Government and yet from the day that ne SET 1901
IN Honolulu he was busy plotting treason asa''s.
the Government to which he was accredited ana
Grove. Cleveland and Walter q Gresham were
accessories before the fact
Those are the same men who. In the name OF
| mis- Government" express surprise and us
s,,srac,ion' with the conduct Of "a foreign envoy
,,o covsrtlv uscs his iniuence'--nOt however. IN
b.half OF dssolute savage disappearing III
rob.s OF royalty. but quit" the contrary II
"cover,ly" at all-and who desire TO nave Mr.
Thurs,on recalled and replaced by man III "hofi
..,,a, confidence which is essential TO frank and
cordial intercourse" may be felt President CleVe-
ia and Secretary Gresham must have reasoned
,,,, the American people had lost their memory
.rd would never be able 10 recall the history OF
this Administrations dupcity ana dcspcaoe "ca1-
,,gs and srbtcrfuges In regard to Hawaiian AZ
80 or the letter OF February Il would never
have been written. .
r,,,a,,, ,org into the whole question or at
..,,,w 10 review some OF the Kentucky school
masters performances on his own account II may
he profitable briefly TO recall ie" Things "'''
Minister Wills did under the Instructions oil '"e
| sensitive President Cleveland anu INC e'u"'' '"
st,ve Secretary OF State
on November 4, 1890 Minister Wits arrived IN
uonolulu accredited to the Provisional Government.
and three days latsf he was oi'lciaiy receiver ms
speech on that occasion was full OF PROFESSIONS %.
friendship and he declared that he was oifee'ea
..by the President" to renew the assurances VI
.,hc friendship interest and hearty good VIII which
our Government feels ior you an" 'O' '"' P'''O ~
this island realm.
Mr.. Willis continued: ASIDE from our geograph-
cal proximity and the consequent preponderauhs
commercial interests which centre here, the present
advanced civilization and Characterization OF your
people. together with your enlishtehcu Sou'' "a
law stand to-day beneficial monuments OF Ameri-
can zeal courage and intelligence.
Those were not words spoken In the heat OF de-
hate" but carefully considered and written sew
eral days before. and copy TRANSMITTED 70 'he
Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of the PROVISIONAL Gov
eminent, and yet at the very hour they were spoken
Mr. Willis was under bonds to 10 everything he
couId backed by the Administration. to overthrow
the beneficial monuments Of American zeal, cour-
o9e and intelligence" and their ruins to re-
establish a monarchy under dissoute ana savage
queen on November II he wrote to Secretary
Gresham saying that he had presented MS credeh-
tials TO the Provisional Government. and that the
time since has been occupied with the reception or
executive judicial and diplomatic representatives
OF the Provisional and foreign Governments. and
that he had not, therefore. had an opportunity
OF executing more fully your Instructions All
this time he deceiving the Government TO
which he was accredited and awaiting the oppor-
tunity to accomplish It's overthrow and destruction
Minister williss zeal did not allow him an hour $
unnecessary delay In taking the first step to carry
out his instructions. On November Ii he again
wrote to Secretary Gresham. saving: I'm the fore
noon o. Monany c tmg .,r by the Ravsl chain
berlan. Mr.. Robertson. called at the LEGATION no
followed. her Chamberlain having been taken to
another ROOM and Consul General Mills. who had
Invited her to come. remaining In the front OF the
house to prevent interruption" ,..,
What took place at THIS secret Interview between
accredited 10 a friendly Government. which had
been duly recognized by the United States and every
| other civilized Power. with exceptions.
| and deposed and discredited Queen who was
mating It's destruction. Is related In the let
Ter She was assured by Mr. Willis that the Presi-
dent not only tenders you his sympathy. but wishes
| 10 help YOU In reply To question her dusky
| Majesty said with good deal Of emphasis. and
poatcd the declaration thrice. that II she should
| be restored to power every person who had been
| instrumental In her overthrow would be beheaded
| and his property conhscated. The Minister OF the
that The President would agree to help her to carry
| out this bloody programme. and he remarks: II
| have no further communication to make 10 you
| now and will have none until hear from my Gov
| eminent, which Will probably be three or four
| weeks"
| He then desired the names OF four OF her most
trusted friends with whom he might desire
and she gave him The, the names. 80, Further
| lection concluded not TO hold any consultation a,
present with the Queens friends. as they have no