Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-09
EVENTS in HAW All
The Latest Official Information as to
Their Progress.
MIR. WILLIS AND ADMIRAL WALKER
A Distinct Difference of Opinion
Between Them.
PROPOSED BRITISH CABLE
Mr. WILLIS AND ADMIRAL WALKER
PROPOSED BRITISH CAB LIE

official information In regard to the pro-
gress of events in the Hawaiian republic
since the date of the last message on the
same subject. This chapter is full of In
terest inasmuch as 1t reveals in one case
a notable difference of opinion between
Admiral Walker and United States Min
lister Willis making clear issue between
them. In the second place 1t discloses an
effort being made by the British govern
ment. with the consent of the Hawaiian
authorities, to secure the lease Of an is
land Of the Hawaiian group to be used as
cable station. The issue between the
admiral and the minister Is made plain
by the following extract from letter from
Secretary Gresham to Minister Willis,
dated August 81, and the minister's reply:
"a very remarkable dispatch from Rear
Admiral Walker, dated At Sea, August II,
and reporting events at Honolulu up to
the date of his departure on the 18th, has
been communicated to me by the Secre-
tary of the Navy for my information. I
inclose copy for your perusal The ap-
prehensions Of the admiral do not seem to
have been shared by you sufficiently to
warrant your reporting the petition for
the retention of the Philadelphia, which
was addressed to you as well as to the
naval commander; and 1t Is trusted that
your reported concurrence in that oif1cer'S
views will be found due TO some msap-
prehension."
As to ADMIRAL Walkers Statements.
Minister Willis replies to this letter, un-
der date Of Honolulu, September 20. as
follows:
"After a lengthy statement seriously re-
flecting upon the late British minister and
the commanding officer Of the Champion
and expressing such apprehensons touch
ing the political situation here as necessi-
tatad the detention Of the Philadelphia, the
admiral in the eleventh paragraph says:
Before reaching this conclusion Ito post
pone the Philadelphia's departure) I con-
suited with the United States minister.
whose views entirely coincided with my
own.'"
Your dispatch indicates that these words
Of the admiral have been given a wider
meaning than could have been intended
by him. A brief recital of the facts may
therefore be proper
On the 9Th day Of August. I was In
formed by the admiral that he would
leave with the Philadelphia on the Sth.
On the 9Th the British minister, Major
Wodehousc. having been succeeded by Mr.
Hawes. made his farewell official visit to
this legation, during which he mentioned
the fact that the Champion had intended
to leave on-that day, but some OF the
English residents had become nervous
when they heard that the Philadelphia
also was to leave, and. yielding to their
request, the Champion would remain until
the Hyacinth arrived. Upon the same
morning MADE paTtln& call 10 tue oiii-
GERS Of the Philadelphia, when the admiral
told me that several citizens had eX-
pressed their regret at the departure OF
the Philadelphia before the arrival OF the
Charleston, which vessel was daily ex-
pected He also expressed some surprise
at the change of plans of the Champion.
In view Of these facts he asked my opin-
ion in regard to the detention OF the Phil
adelphia. 1 replied that as the steamer
Australia was due here August II, 8 am,
which would probably bring correct ad-
vices as to the Charleston's movements,
I saw no reason, If not in conflict with his
orders (as to the nature of which I was
not informed), why the Philadelphia should
not wait until then. When the Australia
arrived, I Immediately notified the admiral
that no news warranting his further stay
had been received. He left the next morn
ing.
1t Is this conversation and the unimport-
ant result following it with which the ad-
m;ral connects me.
The statements as to the conduct and sem
timents of the British minister and captain
of the British cruiser, and especially as to
their purpose to land troops Tor poltlcal
advantage and the dangers resulting there
fl ON to American interests, I cannot con-
frr, either from personal knowledge or re-
liable information. If called upon to ex-
press an opinion should be constrained to
say that during the past six months. and
especially since the proclamation OF the
republic, the presence or absence OF British
war vessels here ought have been regarded
with Indifference by our government, as it
Is now by this government.
The petition of citizens" referred to by
the admiral did not receive until the day
after our conversation. The conditions here
for many months had been extremely or
derly and peaceful. AS stated by the Pc
tition ITSELF there was mo reason to doubt
the ability of the government of the re-
public of Hawaii to support and sustain
itself and furnish full protection to the
lives and property OF an reslaehts .s m ana ns
mics of the government concurred. Fur
thermore, on the day after receiving the
petition. Mr.. Hatch. the minister OF Tor.
eign affairs, expressed to me his regret
that It had been sent, as those he repre-
sented welcomed the opportunity to prove
to the world that they were able to take
care of themselves. These I deemed su1il-
cient reasons for not forwarding the petit
tion.'-
The next letter from Mr.. Willis to the
Secretary of State is dated Honolulu, De-
cember g. and relates exclusively to the
proposed trans-Pacific cable from Canada
to Australia. 1t opens an entirely new
phase Of that question. Mr.. Willis says ne
has already called attention to the propo-
sition which has been made to the Hawaiian
government by commissioners represent
ing Great Britain, Canada and Australia,
involving the use of one of It's uninhabited
islands as station, for a trans-Pacif1c
cable from Canada to Australia. and, in
consideration of such use and of such
subsidy as might be agreed upon, the con-
nection Of Honolulu to the main line by a
branch cable to the island which might be
selected Mr.. Willis says:
This government is Of opinion that 1t Is
estopped from considering the foregoing
proposition by article four Of the treaty Of
reciprocity between Haw all and our gov
ernment.
'"rhis matter is now, therefore, at the re-
quest of this government, submitted to the
consideration of our government upon the
question of its willingness to nullify the
treaty of reciprocity by exempting Necker
Island, French Frigate Shoals, or Nihoa
CBird Island) from the operation of article
four of the treaty, which reads as follows:
"'It is agreed on the part of his Hawaiian
majesty that as long as this treaty shall
remain in force he will not lease or other
wise dispose Of or create any lien upon
any port harbor or other territory In his
dominions or grant any special privileges
or rights of use therein to any other power,
state OF government
A Note From Minister Hatch.
The minister incloses copies of a note he
had received from Mr.. Hatch, minister Of
foreign affairs. and Of correspondence be-