The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-10
ENGLANDAND HAWAII
The Republic Wants to Lease
Islets as Cable Stations.
AND ASKS OUR PERMISSION.
Prssideat Cleveland. A senAing Corre-
spsadsaes e. Cssgresss kxpataases On
Easland's Good viii 60 Hawsai.

washington CITY, Jan. s-The p-ess-
derN today sent 10 congress another
batch OF Hawaiian correspondence sup
Elementary 60 Admiral Walkers report
This ssharxer Is full Of interest. i4ras-
much as il reveals a yrssa.ble difference
OF c,inson between Admiral Walker and
United states minister Willis regard
ing the necessity Of keeping United
Stasss warsshsyS az Honolulu as long as
the British government keeps mea-of-
Wig there In the sezezld place X dis
cioses an effcrt being made BY the Brit
ISM government. with the consent of the
Hawaiian authorities. 10 secure a sase
OF an island Of the Hawaiian group 10
be used as a. cable station.
With the correspondence the presi-
dent sent this message: Il submit here
with certain dispatches from our min
lister at Hawaii and documents which
acouxnganied the same. They disclose
the fact that the Hawaiian government
desirss To lease TO Great Britain one
uninha sstesi island belonging 10 Ha-
wall as a station for a submarine Fele-
graph cable to be laid from Cesraefa TO
Australia. with connection bstween the
island leased and Honolulu. Both the
governments of Hawaii and the repre-
senaatives Of Great Britain in this ne
gceiatierl concede that the proposed
base cannot be effected without the
consent OF the United states, for the
reason that in our reciprocity treaty
with the king of Hawaii he agreed that
ais long as the treaty remained in force
he would not lease or otherwise dispose
Of or create any len uIon any port,
ha4bor or other territory in his do
minfn or grant any special privileges
or rights of use therein to any other
state or government. At the request
of tina Hawaiian government this sub
ject Is laid before congress for Its de-
termination upon the question OF SO
anodifying the treaty ab0ve recited as
Ito permit the proposed lease. 1t will be
sa-en that the correspondence, which IS
submitted, between the Hawaiian and
British negotiatOrs negatives the ex-
istence on the part of Hawaii of any
suspicion of British unfldendliIieSs or
fear of British aggression Tlre atten-
ton OF congress is directed to the fol-
lowing statement contained in q COM
fnxnication addressed to the Hawaiian
government by Representatives of Great
Britain: We propose to inform the
British government of your inquiry
whether they win accept the sovereign
~ of Neckar Island or some other un-
inhabited island on condition that no
subsidy is required from you. As we
explained. we have not felt at Eber-ty to
entertain that question ourselves. as We
were definitely instructed not to ask
for sovereignty of any island. but only
for a lease. simply for the purposes of
the cable
.Seune OF the dispatches from car
minister, which are submitted. not only
refer to the project for leasing an uHin-
habitcd Island belonging to Hawaii. but
contain interesting information concern
ing recent occurrences In thai coutry,
and its political and social condition.
This information Is valuable because 1t
is based on observation and knowledge
necessarily within the scope OF the dip
losrnAtbc duties which are entrusted
solely 10 the charge OF this Intelligent
diplunatic officer, representing the
United States government at Hawaii.
hope congress win see fit TO grant the
request OF the Hawaiian government,
and that cur consent to the proposed
lease will be accorded. 1t seems that
we ought not 10y refusal of the request
TO stand in the way of the adyarvtag es
to be gained by isolated Hawaii
through taregratahic communication
with the rest OF the wugld. and cspe-
cFally in view of the fact that our own
communication with that country
would thereby be improved without APP
parent da.Tffnent 10 any legitimate
american Interests
On December the cable proposition
seems to have taken full shape, for on
that date MIR. Willis writes concerning
his former reference TO the subject, and
makes the statenene that the Hawaiian
government Is OF the opinion that ii is
stopped from considering the proposition
OF the British commissioners by article
OF the reciprocity treaty between Hawaii
and our governments. He adds: This
matter IS row. therefore, at the request
OF this government. submitted 10 the
consideration OF cur government uyon
the question Of its willingness to nusissy
the treaty of reciprocity by exernptisag
Neckar island. French Frlgate Shoals or
Nihoxl bird islarld) from the operation of
article 4 Of the treaty. In this ecnnec.
ton / inclose copies Of the note ~ Mr.
Hatch. minister Of foreign affairs. and OF
correspondence between him and the com
rnissioners,
In the note to which Mr.. Willis refers
from Mr. Hatch. the latter explains that
the British propositions involve tbs use
OF ole OF tne uningsihsteSi islands belesng-
ing 10 the republic. viz. Neckar island,
Frealch Frigate Shoals or Sihoa Bird
sSiaEsil. as a cable station. in oUasl3era-
ton OF such use and of such subsidy "a
might he agreed upon ard the connection
Of Honolulu 70 the main iine b. branch
from tbs ssians! which might be selected.
The minister expatiates AZ great icngsh
upon the Importance OF the proposed