The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-27
No Longer Thorn in the
Side of the Department
of State.
ON HIS WAY TO HONOLULU.
Anxious to Confer With the Dole
Government Before Action
Is Taken.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 26-Min-
lister Thurston has decided to leave this
country without waiting for formal notice
from his Government to return. He said
he would start for San Francisco to-day
and take the steamer sailing for Honolulu
next week. He gave out the following au-
thoriZed statement to-day:
81 have received no information from
my Government or from Gresham that my
recall has been requested, and up to the
present time there has been no change in
my official relations with the State Depart
ment. Whether my recall has been re-
quested or not [ do not know. In any
event l shall not remain in Washington.
There is nothing of especial importance to
keep me here at present, while there are
several matters requiring my attention at
home. l shall therefore return to Homo
lulu Immediately, leaving San Francisco
on April f."
Thurston declines to discuss any of the
details Of his departure, or the significance
of it, pending the request of his recall.
Frank ?. Hastings, secretary of the lega-
ton, will become charge 'affaires for Ha-
wall. 1t is understood Mrs. Thurston will
not make the trip with her husband but
will visit relatives in Michigan.
Mr.. Thursfon's departure late this after
noon put an end to previous comment as
to his purpose to remain in Washington as
thorn in the side of the State Department.
His statement does not make clear, how
ever whether his absence is temporary or
permanent and the Minister will not go
into details. 1t is regarded as final, how
ever, in showing that he will not seek to
remain in Washington as source of any
irritation. There have been reports, be-
ieved however, to be baseless, that if he
persisted in remaining in a private capac-
ity the law would be evoked to have him
deported. but Mr.. Thurston's statement is
regarded as settling that there will be no
occasion for forcing him out of the country.
In some quarters Mr.. Thurston's move is
regarded as shrewd diplomatic stroke. 1t
is recalled that he left unexpectedly about
fifteen months ago, when the question of
restoring the Queen to the throne was at
critical stage in Hawaii. The Hawaiian
Government was on the point of reaching
decision but had not yet done so.
At this jnncture Mr.. Thurston left Wash
ington suddenly, his departure not being
known until he was well on the way to
as to the sentiment in the United States
and when he reached Hawaii his advice
had much to do in the final action of the
Government. 1t is being suggested, there
fore, that his departure at the present
iuncture, before it is known what action
the Hawaiian Government has taken on
Secretary Gresham's demand, may result
in his being at Honolulu when final action
is taken. No information has yet come
from Hawaii as to the course of the Gov
eminent. The first ship to arrive is the
Australia, expected at San Francisco to-
morrow.
The departure of Mr.. Thurston from the
United States without being recalled by
his Government will leave the relations
between this Government and Hawaii in a
peculiar condition. 1t cannot be said that
there is a rupture of diplomatic relations,
but they will certainly be severely strained.
1t is customary in ordinary cases when a
Minister leaves the United States perma-
| nently for him to present his letters of re-
call to the President and take his leave.
But as Mr.. Thurston has not been recalled
he cannot do this. Then when Minister
leaves the United States temporarily he
usually addresses note to the State De-
| partment and informs it that he has left
| the legation in the hands of charge DAT
| flares. Probably Mr.. Thurston has adopted
| the latter course.
But in the celebrated CatacaZy case in
which the Russian Government had been
| requested to recall its Objectionable Min
| lister and the latter before his Government
had passed upon the request notified the
Department of State that he proposed to
leave the United States on a leave of alb
sence, Secretary Fish strongly objected and
| insisted that the United States would ac-
cept nothing less than the Minister'S re-
call. In the end Mr.. Catacazy did leave
the United States without being recalled,
Just as Mr.. Thurston is about to do, turn
ing over the business of the legation to a
charge, and our Government accepted the
situation and so expressed itself as satisfied.
| 1t was a long time before another Minister
came from Russia to Washington and the
similarity in other features of the two Incl
dents leads to the supposition that the par
allel may be carried on further and that
Mr.. Hastings, the Hawaiian charge, may
| be left here in that position for many
months. From diplomatic point OF view
this cannot be regarded as complete rup-
| ture of relations, but such situation SINH
lar to that in which the Italian legation
was left by the withdrawal of Baron Fava,
four years ago, is generally regarded as
very unsatisfactory and is calculated to
make Mr.. Willis position as Minister at
| Honolulu untenable.
|