The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-10


the enemies Of the government concurred.
Furthermore, on the day after receiving
the petition. Fir Hatch, the minister Of
foreign affairs, expressed to me his re-
greet that IL nad been sent as those he
represented welcomed the opportunity TO
prove 10 the world that they were able
70. take care of themselves These /
deemed sulticieut reasons for not forward
issgned5 ALBERT S. WILLIS"
A Protested lease.
The projected lease Of the Hawaiian
Minister Willis in several letters be-
ginning October IL, In the first letter
Mr. Willis says that during the past ne
gctiatiOns had been pending between the
OF SreaT Britain in regard to an ocean
cable between Canada and Australia,
,cyening at NeclSar island, or at Homo
lula. lie did not think that an agree
ment would be reached at present owing to
the clause in our treaty with Hawaii pro-
hibiting the cession of any of the islands
70 any foreign government without cur
consent. He noted that the registration
jIsts closed showed an increase OF the
island of Thu of J, S29 as against ], 735 at
the May elections. The financial state
ment showed q loss Of revenue for the
year as compared with 1898 of $50 3d. but
as the expenditures we're decreased by
2l,4Sy, there was a net gain of S24,542. On
October 10 the minister writes as follows.
MI HleHllnS, OF &aEaua, ana MI. Mel
eier, Of the colonial Office. London IN
company with A. r. Halves, the British
commissioner, returned on the 9Th inst.
IRON Bird island. where they had visited
on the Hydcinthe in the interest OF the
proposed cable. They leave today for
home via Washington. where they viii
probably submit to the president and
yourself some proposition relating TO their
mission here. On the 18th inst. MIR. YER
laye the French commissioners, requested
that your attention be called to the fact
that his cOuntrymen had just completed
a cable to New Caledonia and would
probably desire to extend 1t to Tahiti
the Hawaiian islands and the United
States. For this reason he hoped that our
government would not be hasty in the
natter
ON November IS the minister tells of the
successful ticket of the American Union
PARTY without excitement ard of the ar
rival OF 500 Japanese immigrants to labor
on the sugar plantations under contract
On December 5 the cable proposition
seems to have taken full shape, for ON
that date Mr.. Willis writes concerning his
former reference to the subject and stat
ing that the Hawaiian government is of
the opinion that it is stopped from con-
SiderinS the proposition by the British
commissioners by article 4, a reciprocity
treaty between Hawaii and our govern
nent. He adds:
The Reciprocity Treaty.
This matter is now therefore. at 1.-THE
ItQuSSI OIL IillS government submitted 10
the consideration of our government upon
the question Of its willingness TO nullify
the treaty of reciprocity by eNempting
Neckar island, French fnigate shoals of
Nihoa CBird island), from the operation of
article of the treaty, which reads as
follows:
1T is agreed on the part of his
Hawaiian majesty, that as long as this
treaty shall remain in force he will not
lease, nor otherwise dispose of, nor
create any lien upon any port. haTbor or
other territory in his dominions, nor
grant any special privileges or rights of
government
I'm this connection ! enclose copies OF
The note of MIR. Hatch. minister of foreign
affairs, and of correspondence between
him and the commissioners.
In the note TO which Mr.. Willis refers
from Mr.. Hatch, the latter explains that
The British propositions involves the use
! of one of the uninhabited islands be-
| longing to the republic, Viz: Neckar is
/ land French frigate shoals or Nihoa
! Q3ird island), as q cable station in con-
sideration of such use and of such sub
sidy as might be agreed upon, and the
connections of Honolulu tOfthe main line
! by a branch of the island which might
/ be selected. The minister eSpadates al
great length upon the Importance of the
proposed cable 10 Hawaii and reciteS the
/ fact that the government has iii times
! past offered considerable subsidies, in one
case amounting to S25,G00 per annum anC
( she exclusive right for fifteen years to Sc
cure such a cable. The opportunity now
offered, he says, is che to which his
country cannot be Indifferent, IL it can be
taken up consistently with the treaty
obligations and if no more desirable
! scheme is presented.
| As the proposition is che in which tht
British government is directly or indi
rectly interested, NIr. Hatch says The
Hawaiian government feels itself stopped
: by our reciprocity treaty from consideTinS
I it until the views of our government caI
( he ascertained. Enclosed in Mr.. Hatch!
note is d letter from Messrs. Fleming anC
MERCER, the Canadian and British com
Z mjssioners, transmitting a copy of tht
memorandum of agreement touching tht
cable.
Government Consent Wanted.
These gentlemen say they presume Mr.
I Hatch will bring the proposed agreemen
! to the attention OF the United State:
! government and ascertain whether it vii
give its consent. They hope that thu
! Washington government will be able (
do this upon proper representations.
They endeayor TO show the advantage
that would accrue to the United State
( from direct cable communication witt
Honolulu and exceedingly low telegraph
rates TO Australia, all without contribut
ing to the capital required for the cabl
or the heavy subsidies necessary for il
operation. 1t is said that the Unite,
States government has been some tim
aware of the undertaking and there cal
be little doubt that it can recognize tn
advantage TO be secured by It. 1t is b,
no means settled that the undertaken;
will, if it is determined upon, be carried
ont as a government enterprise. II nigh
be committed to a company whose leas
would not literally come within the term
of the treaty with the United States, bu
having regard to the circumstances tina
foreign governments would have q sub
Stantial interest in the lease, the com
naissioners are quite in accord with the sug
gestiOn that in amy shape the agreeen
should be sanctioned by the United States
il is understood that if the Washingtol
authorities consent the memorandum vii
be submitted to the Hawaiian legislature
The commissioners then touched upo
the question of subsidy and say that an
other feasible route than Hawaii is unde
consideration and the adoption of tn
latter must be justified on financial an
commercial grounds. They propose to IN
form the British government of MI
Hatchs inquiry whether they would &C
CO pt the sovereignty of Neckar island Q
some other on condition that no subsid
would be required, but as they asked onl
for a lease, they did not feel at libert
to entertain that question themselves
The memorandum shows that the SupSld
demanded is 5000 per annum for fiftee
years: that the island selected shall not b
fortified or used as a naval station o
other than Tor cable purposes and that tn
agreement shall terminate upon breach c
its terms.
HIS Last Letter.
In his last letter, Gated December i
Minister Willis mentions the arrest @
five persons on the 9Th inst. for conspirac
and levving d war against the republic
He also SAYS that there have been severs
lt1raors of intended revolution, but no eS
citemerlt or interruption Of business: Tn
government expresses confidence IN II
ahilitv to suppress any disturbance whic
might arise. The British warship Hya
cinthe vii remain in port until relieve
by another war vessel. In the course {
tbe CORRESPONDENCE it is said that tn
Hawaiian republic has been fully recos
niZed by France. Mexico. Great, Britain
Japan, Switzerland, Russia and Guatt
mala.
NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
Arran gementS For q Test Vote on