Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-09
tween Mr. Hatch and the commissioners of
the countries concerned. In his letter Mr..

the countries concerned. In his letter Mr..
Hatch says:
1.-THE matter has excited much interest
here, and 1t Is felt by all classes that a
cable is of the greatest Importance to this
community.
For many years strenuous attempts have
been made upon our part to induce some
company to undertake the enterprise Of
laying cable from San Francisco to Homo
lulu. In 1875 our legislature passed an act
to encourage telegraphic cable companies.
In 1884 the legislature offered an annual
subsidy of $4,000 for period Of fifteen
years to any company which should es-
tabish telegraphfc communication between
Honolulu and San Francisco. In 1890 the
subsidy offered was increased to $4,000 per
year for fifteen; and the exclusive right of
landing telegraphic cables on these islands
for a period of fifteen years from 1891 was
added as a further inducement.
aside from the extremely accurate sur
veys which have been made BY your gov
ernment nothing has SO far been accom-
plished.
THE opportunity now offered is one to
which this country cannot BE Indifferent,
if it can be taken UP consistently with
treaty obligations and If no more desirable
scheme is presented.
1.-THE proposition submitted by the COM
missioners above named contemplates a
scheme in which the British government
will be directly or indirectly interested.
This government, therefore, considered it
self estopped by article 4 of the treaty Of
reciprocity between the United States and
Hawaii from considering any proposition
until the views Of your government could
be ascertained.
1T is desired to submit this matter to
your government in order to obtain their
views upon the desirability Of modifying
the treaty Of reciprocity by exempting
Necker Island. French Frigate Shoals or
Nihoa (Bird Island) from the operation of
article Of the treaty."
What the Canadian Commission Want.
Inc1osed in Mr.. Hatch's note is letter
from Messrs. Fleming and Mercer, the
Canadian and British commissioners, trans
mitting a copy of the memorandum of
agreement touching the cable. These gen.
tlemen say they presume Mr.. Hatch will
bring the proposed arrangement to the at
tention of the United States government,
and ascertain whether it will give it's con-
sent.
1t Is understood that II the Washington au-
submitted to the Hawaiian legislature. The
commissioners then touch upon the Ques-
tion Of subsidy, and say that another feasi-
BILE route than Hawaii Is under considera-
ton. and the adoption of the latter must be
justified on financial and commercial
grounds. They propose to inform the Brit
ish government of Mr.. .Hatch,s inquiry
whether they would accept tie sovereignty
Of Necker Island or some other on condi
ton that no subsidy was required, but as
they asked only for a lease they did not
feel at liberty to entertain that question
themselves.
The memorandum shows that the SUBJ
sidy demanded is f7.OOO per annun for Is
years, that the island selected shall not he
co-fortified or used as a naval station, or
for other than cable purposes. and that the
agreement shall terminate upon breach of
its terms. ..a. ,Yy
The Arrests for COnspfracy.
The latest information in regard to the
state OF affairs on the islands, fs given in
the following letter from Mr.. Willis to
Secretary Gresham, under date of Homo
lulu, December IA. which closes the corre-
spondence, so far as received at this end Of
the line: 81 4,
Five arrests were made here on the 9th
instant. -Four OF the prisoners are held
without bail. The charge is conspiracy
and levying war against the republic The
only prominent persons arrested are ]. e.
Bush, editor OF an afternoon paper, 'ha
Leo published in English and native. and
Joseph Nawaht, a native lawyer, who for
a brief time was minister of foreign af-
fairs under the monarchy. Mr.. Bush Is
half-white, and was prominent during the
reign OF King Kalakaua. Both Bush and
Nawahi were members of the last legisla-
ture. 1t is claimed that arms and ammu-
milton were found upon the premises of the
parties arrested.
tended revolution, but no excitement or
interruption of business. The government
expresses confidence in its ability to sup
press any disturbance which may arise.
THE only national ship in port is the
Hyacinthe, which, it is reported, will re-
main until some other war vessel arrives.
Another unimDortant arrest occurred
yesterday, making seven in all.
1.-The U. 8. s. Yorktown, Commander
Folger, arrived here on the 18th ultimo,
and left on the I'D ultimo."
The Presidents Message.
The above correspondence was transmit
ted with the following message from the
President:
The attention of Congress Is directed to
the following statement contained in
addressed to the Hawaiian
government by the representatives of Great
Britain:
1--WE propose to inform the British gov
ernment Of your inquiry whether they
would accept the sovereignty Of Nicker
Island CT some other uninhabited island on
condition that no subsidy Is required from
you. AS we explained, we have not felt
at liberty to entertain that question our
selves, as we were definitely instructed not
to ask for the sovereignty of any island,
but Only for O. lease simply for the pur-
pose of the cable"
Some of the dispatches from our min
lister, which are submitted, not only refer
to the project for leasing an uninhabited
island belonging to Hawaii, but contain in
terestlng information concerning recent oc-
currences in that country, and it's political
and social condition. This information is
valuable because it is based upon the OBJ
servaticn and knowledge necessarily within
the scope of the diplomatic duties which
are intrusted solely to the charge of this
intelligent diplomatic officer representing
the United States government at Hawaii.
I hope Congress will see fit to grant the
request Of the Hawaiian government and
that our consent to the proposed lease will
be promptly accorded. 1t seems to me we
ought not, by refusal Of the request, to
stand in the way of the advantages to be
gained by isolated Hawaii through tele-
graphic communication with the rest of the
world, especially in view of the fact that
our own communication with that country
would thereby be so greatly improved with
out apparent detriment to any legitimate
tives:
I submit herewith certain dispatches from
our minister at Hawaii and the documents
which accompanied the same.
They disclose the fact that the Hawaiian
government desires to lease to Great Brit
of,, of ha I'M ha ta6 ali ho1nnO-