The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-11
MUST MAKE PREPARATION
Justice Requested in the
Case of an Imprisoned
American.
EXCITEMENT At HONOLULU.
Varied ConJectures as to the Prob
able Outcome of the Decisive
Action Taken.

s VANCOUVER, B. c., Aug. 10.-The fol
lowing Hawaiian advices have been re-
ceived from Honolulu by the steamer
Warrimoo under date of August L:
On the 21st ult. United States Minister
Willis sent to the Hawaiian Government
request for reparation to be made to one
James Dureel, an American citizen, OF ac-
count of causeless arrest and imprison-
ment during the prevalence of martial law
last January. To Mr.. Willis letter was
appended a copy Of Mr.. Dureels affidavit,
sworn to before Consul Mills on the 9TH of
April last In addition to the allegations
set forth in the Minister'S letter Dureel
claims damages for $25, 900 on account of
injury done his business, his feelings and
his reputation.
Mr.. Hatch read the letter of Mr.. Willis
in the Senate on the Goth and stated that
the Government would investigate the
matter and send reply to the communi-
cation. Marshal Hitchcock is compiling
the evidence on record in his Office against
Dureel, but declined to state the nature of
il. He stated, however, that the affidavit
contained many false statements about
diet and treatment in prison.
and resided in the United States until
September, 1894 He then went to Homo
lulu, obtained temporary employment as
cook at the Arlington Hotel, and at the
time of his arrest was running cigar,
soda-water and fruit store. He is three
fourths American Indian and one-fourth
negro, and, like the majority of the
coored men, became royalist sympa-
thizer from the time of his arrival. The
Hawaiian Star observes:
The Government is viewing this action of
Mr.. Willis with serious apprehension. They
fear that it indicates active hostility toward
them on the part of the American administra-
ton. They fear that it is designed TO encour-
age and lead the way to a series of similar
demands from Great Britain, and perhaps
other. powers, which would be distressing and
perhaps ruinous to comply with. They also
feel that it indicates in the administration
disposition to take up and urge against them
any sort of a claim, however unworthy. The
demand may be altogether without special sig
nifcanee, and the alarm created needless.
It is, however, looked upon as quite sig
nifcant to the royalist paper, the Inde-
pendent. That paper interprets the de-
mand as intended to dispel the illusion of
American protection, and says IL is 1.-THE
thin edge of the wedge which is 10 rend
this republic" The general belief, how
ever, among friends of the Government is
that in every case for which demand for
damages may possibly be presented the
Government will be able to present clear
case, so that the claim will not be per-
sisted in.
Hon. William R. Castle, Hawaiian Minis
ter to Washington, and Major James Hay
Wodehouse, late British Minister to Ha-
'waii, were among the Warrimoo's passen-
gers. Previous to Mr.. Wodehouse's de-
parture from Honolulu he requested a
parting interview with ex-Queen Liluoka-
lani, but the request received a positive re-
fusal. The reason assigned was that Mr..
Wodehouse still held an official character
of which he could not divest himself, SO as
to render MS visit to the former Queen one
merely of friendship.
Minister Wodehouse represented the
British Government at the Hawaiian court
for over twenty-five years with great credit.
He was strongly opposed to the revolu.
ton, and made himself obnoxious to the
Provisional Government, who came to re-
gard the British legation as the chief center
of roYalist intrigue.
Minister Hatch in an interview stated
that the leading reason for the refusal of
Mr.. Wodehouse's request was the one given
in reply. He is still in an official position.
He is retiring Minister, and as such still
entitled to the courtesies and immunities
OF that position. He has been commits
stoned to the former Queen. 1t would be
impossible for him now to pay her fare
well visit without its being the subject of
public Interpretation as an official recog-
milton of her continued royalty.
Mr. Hatch further said that SO far from
this Government being lacking in courtesy
to Mr.. Wodehouse it is he who has violated
all courtesy in refusing to recognize this
by paying to it his official
farewell He evidently is taking this
course to express his contempt for the
rightful authority of this Government. In
stead of taking his leave of President Dole
he proposes to pay his farewell to the ex-
Queen, thus emphasizing the recognition
of her as the rightful sovereign of Hawaii.
That cannot be permitted.
Mr.. Hatch also stated that so far as this
Government had any official knowledge
Mr.. Wodehouse was still the British Min
lister. He has never made known to it his
retirement from office 1t is true that
Major Hawes has been recognized as Com
and Consul General, but that
does not necessarily terminate Mr. Wode-
houses tenure of the quite different Office
o. Minister. Still holding that office he is
not a private person, who might be per-
mltted to visit Mrs. Dominis as frienu.
TO the inquiry whether the recent atti-
tude OF Mr. and Mrs. Wodehouse in
warmly seeking the restoration of the
Queen and In encouraging her to expect it
did NOT contribute to affect the decision
made, Minister Hatch admitted that it did
to some extent. During the whole period
after her dethronement Mr.. Wodehouse
was in constant intercourse with her, ad-
Yising her.
Here President Dole. who was present
remarked: You remember that her
diary, which came into our possession, dis