Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-20
HAWAII'S MINISTER
His Recall Demanded by the Secre-
tary Of State.
MR.. THURSION A PERSONA NON GRATA
This Action Was Entirely Con-
cea ed From Congress.
GENERAL OFFICIAL RETICENCE


seems to tread upon the heels of its pre-
decessor. Sensational incidents have oc-
Cured in rapid succession in our relations
with Germany, France, Great Britain,
Mexico, Italy and Spain. The Spanish in
cident over the Allianca has not been al
lowed to run it's usual course before an
other sensation is sprung. The latest, and,
therefore, the most prominent, is the an
nouncement that Secretary Gresham has
demanded the recall of Mr. L. A. Thurs
ton, the Hawaiian minister to the United
States. According to the best information,
Secretary Gresham's letter making this de-
mand was taken to Honolulu on the steam
er that left San Francisco on the 21st ul-
timo. 1t was addressed to Mr.. Willis, the
United States minister there, with instruc-
tions to present the matter to President
Dole without delay.
1t was a long message, and gave full
specifications of the charges against Mr..
Thurston, including newspaper publica-
tions said to have been inspired by him.
and copies from official documents of the
State Department. for the purpose of
showing that the minister had talked too
freely about matters which the Secretary
thought were still to be regarded as State
Department secrets.
Ample Time for n Reply.
1t is believed from the fact that the
communication relative to Minister Thurs
ton was sent on February q, that there
has been ample time for response from
the Hawaiian government in the mail just
received. Secretary Greshams note reach
ed San Francisco in time to catch a boat
which would arrive at Honolulu about the
last of February, Since then several ships
have left Honolulu. the last ones reaching
Gov, EN~nr atc md Npy war a
ly, about a week ago. They brought the
official mail, which has now arrived at the
legation. 1t Is known that 1t contained a
long communication from Mr.. Hatch, the
Hawaiian minister of foreign affairs. as
Mr.. Hastings received a brief message
saying that such communication was en-
its way.
If the Hawaiian government has replied
Mr.. Thurston would be the natural and
only channel of communicating it to the
State Department, as he remains the ofl-
cial representative Of Hawaii until his re-
call is actually accomplished. That Secre-
tary Gresham asked for Mr. Thurston's
recall there is no longer any doubt though
the manner in which 1t was put is not
yet known. Before answering Secretary
Gresham it is presumed the Hawaiian gov
ernment will communicate with its min
lister and seek his version Of the circum-
stances before acceding to Secretary
Gresham's request. which in a measure
implies a personal affront to the individ-
ual. OnQer tneSe circumstances the COIn-
murication from Hawaii, if it refers to the
recall, as it thought extremely likely, may
be short of a reply to Mr.. Gresham's re-
quest.
Further developments, therefore, will be
watched with great interest, and especially
the answer of Hawaii as declination
to accede to Secretary Gresham's request
doubtless would be followed by Minister
Thurston being given his passports. an
act tantamount to severance Of dplo-
matte relations.
Grcsh0m's Course Criticised.
In connection with the latest Hawaiian
developments criticism is made by members
of Congress still in the city of the failure
of the Secretary of State to transmit in
formation of his action to Congress prior
to- its adjournment on March 4. The re-
quest for Minister Thurstons recall was
dispatched prior to February 81. Congress
had been informed officially that the gov
el nment would keep it posted on Hawaiian
affairs. and would be supplied with the cor
respondence relating thereto. Notwith-
standing this, the Congressman say, no in
timation whatever transpired that the rep
resentative of the Hawaiian government to
the United States had been declared per-
soma non grata. and step taken which
may embarraSS seriously the relations be-
tween the two governments.
No OmciaI Information.
now in Washington says that Mr. Thurston
has no official information as to the request
for his recall while at the same time no
doubt exists on the part of the minister
that such suggestion has been made to
the Hawaiian government. 1t is not likely
however, that Mr.. Thurston will leave this
country. He will continue, it is stated, to
look after Hawaiian interests in an unof-
fetal manner. Mr.. Thurston's friend says
that, matter of fact, he has never been
treated at the State Department as other
foreign ministers have been treated and has
not been accorded the courtesy usually eX-
tended to men holding similar positions.
Mr.. Thurston 1t is said, does not know
who will be his successor, but it is init
mated that Frank Hatch may be selected
and that he will represent the same ideas
and views that have been prominent during
the mission of Mr.. Thurston. Mr.. Hatch is
said to be unusually well qualified for the
post.
Not Recently at the Department.
Mr.. Thurston has not been seen at the
Department of State in person recently,
although Mr.. Hastings, the secretary of
his legation, and the charge d'affaires dur
ing the absence of the minister, has been
a frequent visitor, though not on diplomatic
err ands, so far as can be ascertained.
special cause of grievance against Mr..
itor at the Capitol during the consideration
of Hawaiian matters, on the theory that
he attempted to influence legislation favor
able to the interests of the Hawaiian re-
public regardless of whether or not it was
in accord with the wishes of the admins
tration.
The Hawaiian Cable.
He was specially interested in the bill
for the establishment of a cable line be-
tween the United States and Hawaii, and
made no secret of his desire for it's enact
ment, when, as is well known, the measure
was opposed by the administration The
President had recommended the amend
ment of the old treaty with Hawaii so as
to authorize the construction of a Hawa-
iian cable by British capitalists.
May Soon BE Recalled.
Although Mr.. Thnrston has not as yet
been actually recalled, SO far as admitted,
there is no doubt that the Hawaiian govern
ment will promptly acquiesce in the Presi-
dents suggestion with regard to him. Ac-
cording to diplomatic usage, it is only
necessary to hint that a diplomatic repre-
sentative is persona non grata to the gov
ernment to which he is accredited to in
sure his recall The cases of Mr.. Cate
cazy, the Russian minister, and Mr.. Sack