The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-05-16

apparent hesitation, Mr.. Thurston said
he did not know what right l had to thus
interrogate him. l replied that he already
admitted he had allowed the published
matter to be copied from letters at his
legation, but that the publication was not
full, and l did not suppose he would deny
that the paper l showed him contained
correct copy of the omitted parts. He
said the letters containing the omitted
parts were submitted to him to the repre-
sentatives of the press association to be
copied for publication, not as expressing
| his official views, but as showing the
state of feeling in Honolulu. l t1en re-
marked that all | desired to know was
whether he could furnish the matter for
publication, and he repeated that he had
not furnished it in his official capacity or
as expressing his personal views, but
merely as information, and that in doing
so it was not his purpose to injure the
administration, the president or Mr.. Will
lis. l remarked that he had permitted
the letters, including omitted parts, to be
copied for publication, and that he no
doubt was disappointed that omitted
parts did not appear, and l asked him if he
thought he could with proprety, as the
representative of a foreign government
at the capital, furnish newspapers with
such matter. His reply was that he had
simply furnished it as news, which the
public might like to hear from Honolulu,
and that Senator Kyle had received let
ter even more severe in its terms than that
which had been given out by him.
81 rejoined that Senator Kyle was a
citizen of the United States and as such
might say and do things which a foreign
minister could not say or do with propriety
Here the interview ended.
"When Mr.. Thurston called at the de-
partment few days later he informed me
that there was further statement that
he wanted to make. After being told
that if he wished to say anything more
on the subject it should be in writing he
at once proceeded: L simply desire to
say, Mr.. Secretary, that / realize | am
guilty of official imprOpriety in furnishing
for publication the matter mentioned in
our former interview. l did not realize
this at the time, but do now. 1 regret
what l did, and l apologize for it,
Il replied that in order to avoid any pos
sible misunderstanding the minister's
statements should be in official FORM and
requested that he prepare and submit such
a communication. He declined to do this,
saying he did not feel called upon to make
the written apology, and that he would
trust to my fairness in reducing to writing
what he had said
You are instructed to make this Incl
dent known to the minister for foreign af-
fairs by reading this instruction to him,
and should he so desire, give him a copy.
You will express the surprise and dissatis-
faction with which the government natur-
ally regards the conduct of foreign en-
yoy who thus uses his influence through
the press to bias public opinion in the
country whose hospitality he enjoys, and
you will add that the president would be
pleased were Mr. Thurston replaced by
another minister from Hawaii in whom
we may feel that confidence which is es-
sential to frank and cordial intercourse.
Il am sir, your obedient servant,
w. Q. GRESHAM"
The feeling of the government here is
that IhurstOn was justified in informing
the American public of the situation here
lnasmuch as Gresham, in the beginning,
gave the press matter without cOnsuItinT
Thurston. 1t is said that this was notice,
able, too, in the BIOunt matter. when
Gresham, without informing Thurston of
the receipt of the report wrote a let
ter regarding the government here without
asking for any explanation whatever.
Thurston made public reply and was
attacked personally and called "con-
spirator,' but at that time cabinet
officer. says Gresham, did not take the
matter of such publication up and ask
for Thurston's recall
In an interview this morning a member
of the government said: ''The reply of
the government will be brief and will
not enter into discussion of the matter.
Such discussion would be useless and
only provoke bitter controversy. The
fact remains that the cause of Thurs
tons recall is Il betrayal of the trust he
placed in an agent of the United Press.
How far Cleveland is justified in asking
for the recall based upon such betrayal,
is Il question which can not be settled by
diplomatic correspondence, but by pub
lie sentiment of the people and of those
who attempt to conduct newspaper busi-
ness in an honorable way"
Rumors of rupture in the cabinet have
been common for two days. The disa-
greement is said to be over a disposition
of the rebel aspirants. Minister Damon
and King are in favor of liberating the
prisoners, but the ringleaders are OppOs
ed by Minister Hatch and Attorney Gen
eral Smith. 1t is said President Doll
favors the release of the men. AS tht
outcome of that affair, it is said Damon
and King will resign. The statement is |
denied by the government.
The queen has become tired of prison
to gain her freedom. Her friends have
been busy for some days working in her
behalf and writ of habeas corpus will
be sworn out within few days.
Paul Newman, her attorney, is prepar-
ing his argument. 1t has been a COM
plete surprise to the government that no
attempt has been made to test the validi-
ty of the military court that recently
dealt with the rebels. 1t was generally |
understood that a case would be made |
as soon as it adjourned, but for some
reason no action was taken.