The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-01-22
L1sRoN, PoRruaA1. Dec. rs, 1884


SIR: have the honor to acknowl-
tion Of November Sth with enclosures,
consisting ~ Of q copy Of q letter from
Mr.. Fulfil, the japanese diplomatic
representative in Hawaii, dated Oc-
tober 81, last, and (2) your reply
thereto, dated November 5th.
note that Mr.. Fulfil complains of
an alleged interview with myself,
published In an American Newspaper,
in which, among other statements,
the following words purport to have
been used by me, viz:
"We," meaning the people of Ha.
waii, "are willing to resort to almost
any means to root out the Chinese and
Japanese now on the islands,"
Assuming that have used such ex-
preston, Mr.. Fujii characterlzes 1t IS
t'offensive," and states that it must
commend the new policy of your
Government to the serious considera-
ton of His Imperial Majesty of
Japan"
He further states that the condi-
tions "expose such assertions to just
Quiry whether Mr.. ThurstOn speaks
for the Republic of Hawaii when he
announces that I'VE will resort to al-
most any measure to root out the
Japanese
In reply I beg to state, that if, while
occupying the position that I do, I
have used the language above quoted,
I have, without possibility of benefit
either to myself or the Government
of Hawaii, gone out Of my way to
commit q gross and wanton violation
of diplomatic etiquette and interna-
tional courtesy, against friendly
nation with whom we are on intimate
terms, and with whom, under exist
ing conditions, 1t is particularly for
our interests that we should remain
on good terms.
/ should also, as Mr.. Fujii states,
have been announcing "new policy"
on the part Of the Hawaiian Govern
ment. Not only new, but diametri-
cally opposite to its professions and
its acts duding the past ten years,
during which period it has not only
cultivated Japanese friendship and
invited Japanese immigration to Ha-
waii, but has itself, at large cost, been
instrumental in bringing into the
country nearly $4,000 japanese immi-
grants, the very ones whom am as
sumed to have said it now proposes
to ''root out"
should, moreover, not only have
been announcing a new policy, q
change from an exceedingly friendly
to a most hostile policy, but one
which, from our necessity for labor
ers, would be in the highest degree
Injurious to the business interests of
Hawaii.
In view of the inherent improba-
bility, / might say impossibl1ty, OF
the Hawaiian Government adopting
such a preposterous policy; or that If
it proposed so to do that it would first
be advertised in foreign newspaper;
and in view of the well known, to say
the least, hasty an l loose methods by
which newspaper interviews are con-
structed, it would teem as though Mr..
Fuiii might have considered It unne-
cessary to take notice of the publica-
tionsquoted; or, that if he felt it In
cumbent upon him to do so, he might
have followed the customary diplOm-
| attic precedent, and first have en-
| quired as to the authenticity OF the
| alleged interview.
Under the circumstances 1 deem 1t
almost an impugnment OF my intelL-
gence to be asked whether I made the
statement above quoted; but, as Mr..
Fujii has seen fit to assume that l
have done so, and has made an official
charge to that effect, which has been
published broadcast, beg to state
| that have not at any time or place
used the language above quoted, or
any other language of similar char
acter; that had no such interview as
the one quoted, and did not know that
such an Interview had been published
until informed thereof by your letter.
have the honor, ETC.,
(Signed) L. A. THURsTON.
To F. NJ. Hatch, Esq, Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, Honolulu Fl. /.
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