The record-union., 1895-05-16
speciaI to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 15.-The steamer
Australia, from Honolulu, brings the
following advices, dated May Sth:
Though England is generally reported
rs keeping particularly quiet on the ques-
tion of citizenship growing out OF the re-
cent unpleasantness, Commissioners
Hawes has recently received communl-
cations from Lord Kimberly giving de-
cision upon the cases of A. NJ. Hewitt, T..
B. Walker and w. 81. Rickard. Hewitt
was acquitted on charge OF misprision
of treason. Rickard and Walker were
both convicted on a charge of treason.
According TO the decision Walker and
Rickard are looked upon as citizens OF
Great Britain and subject to protection
from that country.
This decision is particularly interesting
on account of the letter recently received
from Secretary Gresham of the United
States, which indicates policy directly
opposed to that of Great Britain. 1t ap-
pears that Walker. Rickard and Hewitt
are all naturalized citizens OF Hawaii,
took the oath of allegiance to support the
Constitution and bylaws and swore al
to the decision of Lord Kimberly, is not
amenable to British protection. since he
holds q certificate of naturalization.
Walker and Rickard, however, do not
hold this certificate, and have also made
affidavits to the effect that when they
took the oath they were informed by the
King the Minister Of Interior and British
Commissioner Wodehouse that the taking
of the oath would not affect their citizen
ship as subject OF Great Britain. The
oath is as follows:
Every foreigner 80 naturaliZed shall
be deemed to all intents and purposes a
native OF the Hawaiian Islands, be amen
able only to the laws of this kingdom
and to the authority and control thereof,
be entitled 10 the protection of said laws,
and be no longer amenable to his native
sovereign while residing in this king
dom, nor entitled to resort to his native
country for protection or Intervention.
He shall be amenable for every such re-
sort to the pains and penalties annexed
to rebellion by the Criminal Code"
1t will be noted that the laws of Ha-
waii, which hold that person becoming
naturalized and afterward appealing to
his former nation for protection shall be
guilty OF treason. are set at naught by
Great Britain.
Although the decision as to the citizen
ship of these men has been rendered, no
demand has been made by Great Britain
Tor their release or for mitigation OF
sentence. The correspondence with the
British Government has not closed, how
ever.
Rickard. after taking the oath, became
member of the Legislature, and Walker
married native woman. Their verbal
assertions as to what took place are now
made after the King is dead and the
British Commissioner is out Of office.
The decision of Earl Kim berly Is made
without asking the Hawaiian Govern
ment for its side of the case and without
looking into the evidence bearing on it.
What the meaning and drift OF this dis
patch is, is a matter of much doubt. In
view of the recent action of Great Britain
in the matter of Nicaragua, it is feared
that the British may proceed to extreme
measures without submitting the matter
to argument or arbitration. Ii this course
should be taken, the republic may be
asked to release Rickard and Walker and
pay large indemnity at once, or it will
be threatened with forcible occupation OF
the soil. If there should be fol chile oc-
4lpation it would, unquestionably, be
followed by insurrection and bloodshed,
as the natives would believe that 1t meant
nothing but the forcible restoration Of the
ex-Queen.
While the dispatch OF Earl Kimberly
simply states that Rickard and Walker
must be protected as British subjects, it
goes no further and makes no indication
of the step which will be taken.
1t is understood that the Government
will not admit for moment that these
men are British subjects. and will accept
the consequences. 1t would leave this
matter to arbitration as final resort, but
will not yield in any other way.
Minister Hatch has handed Minister
Willis his answer regarding Thurston's
recall, denying the charges made against
Thurston, whose course Is upheld in
every particular. Thurston will not re-
turn to Washington, but his successor is
unnamed.
The Government has chartered a
steamer to patrol the Hawaiian waters to
prevent the landing Of arms for the rev.
olutionists.