The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-10
TRAPPED By A DEC0Y
Thurston Supposed He Gave
News to a Reporter.
BUT 1T WAS TO oREsAAM's SPY
The Latter Reported Promptly TO His
Chief, Thurston Confessed. and His
Recall Was Demanded.


ton was read 10 the executive session OF the
council yesterday. The letter had gone
past Honolulu and been taken by mistake
10 HolSkong. The ground Of the objec-
zion to'Thurston was confined TO a sing le
transaction The sole offense alleged is
that Thurston at the Hawaiian legatio
showed TO correspondent private letters
70 himself from Honolulu. One particular
letter criticised Cleveland and Gresham
Tor their attitude toward the January up
rising Gresham spoke TO Thurston about
the matter. Thurston apologized. but de-
chned 10 accecie TO GreSham's request that
the apology be in writing. Gresham's LETT
ter. dated February q. states in strong
lang uage that Thurston is no longer per-
sonally acceptable 10 the administration
at Washington City as Hawaiian minister
Foliowing is Secretary Gresham's letter
70 Minister Willis:
Department of State. Washington CITY
Feb. y. 1896. Sir-I regret to be constrain-
eu 10 pring to your attention. and through
you 10 the knowledge of the Hawaiian
government, certain acts OF it's representa-
tive in the United States of which this
government has Just cause 10 complain
In order 10 set forth the facts with desir-
able clearness. Ii becomes necessary TO re-
late fully what occurred al two interviews
which / had with Mr.. Thurston at this de-
partment on the 18th and 18th inst
he recent seizure OF a ship at San
Diego, Cal, for alleged violation of our
neutrality laws in carrying arms to Ha-
wall. was the occasion of his first call
After brief converse ton on this subject
took occasion 10 remark that | had In
FORMATION that he was not pleased with
our action in connection with recent events
at Honolulu. Mr. Thurston desired TO
know why that view was entertained here.
whereupon | handed him clipping from
a New York paper of the 18th inst. of
which a full copy is hereto appended.
After | read this article | asked him if he
had furnished the matter TO the paper for
publication. He at once said he had fur-
nished the paragraph which he pointed
out.
II then desired to know IL Mr.. Thurston
had also furnished the same paper the
concluding paragraphs. purporting TO he
extracts from a letter written by a 'promi-
nent lawyer in Honolulu
"Mr. Thurston answered that he had
furnished nothing to that or any other
paper, but he had permitted an employee or
agent of one of the press associations 20
copy al his legation a private letter or ie.-
tiers which he had received. and added
that the published paragraphs did not con-
tain all that was in the private letter or
LISTERS. | thereupon said that was aware
that this was so. and / knew the private
letter or letters did not appear in full IN
the last paragraphs printed. Handing
him atypewritten paper | asked IL the
omitted parts were not contained In the
following passage:
There is intense feeling being mani
Tested by the people at what Is looked
upon as Mr.. Wills unwarranted inter
ference in connection with the presen.
trials. He is doing everything that he can
to protect the royaaists and harass the
government Many Of our best men feel
Il imperative for our future safety THAI
some examples should be made While the
government is master of the situation for
the present the danger is not entirely
over Much indignation is also felt at the
fact that although direct Information was
given 10 Minister Willis last November.
before the shipment OF arms was made a.
San Francisco that such shipment was in
tended nothing appears 70 have been done
to stop the shipment. 1t Is felt that the Ha-
waiian government has strong ground for
complaint against the United States gov
eminent on the score of its Indifference.
II not at It's active conniving, at this flag
rant breach Of neutrality. Whether or
not the Hawaiian government viii make
a claim by reason OF the breach of the
neutrality laws is not yet known. but
there Is strong feeling here that II
should he done The action of Mr. Hawes
contrast 10 that of Mr.. Willis An analy-
sis Of the growth of feeling and facts
leading TO the insurrection showed that
IL is based almost wholly on the encour-
agement given TO the royalists by Presi-
dent Cleveland. and his announced and
constantly reiterated opinion that the
queen ought TO be restored. and a feeling
which, rightly or wrongly was dissem-
mated throughout the royalst sympath-
izers that upon the slightest opportunity
Cleveland would take occasion to assist
the royalists if they could get control 10 a
sufficient extent 20 give him an excuse
for so doing Another letter received
here from Honolulu says the Snost seri-
Gus feature is the attitude OF Willis and
Halves. They are in constant attendance
at the trials. Newman, the attorney de-
Tending the insurrection is constantly in
close consultation with them.
Having read this paper. and after some
apparent hesitation, Mr.. Thurston said he
did not know what right | had 10 in
terrogate him. l replied that he had al
ready admitted that he had allowed the
published matter 70 he copied from let
tiers AZ his legation. but that the publica-
ton was not in full. and I did not sup
pose that he would deny that the papers
showed him contained a correct copy of
the omitted parts. He sasd that the let
tiers containing the omitted paSsa geS were
OF the press association 10 be copied for
publication. not as expressing his official
or personal views but as showing the
state Of feeling in Honolulu. I then re-
marked that all I desired 10 know was
whether he had furnished the matter fer
publication. and he replied that he had
not furnished IL in mis- representative ca
p9C.ty, or as expressing his personal
Views. bur merely as informa ton. ana
IN doing 50 IL was not his purpose 20
lnjure the administration. the president
or Mr.. Willis I remarked that he had
pe rniuted the letters. including the omit
ted parts % he copied for pubiIca ton:
and that he. 40 doubt. was disappointed
that the omitted parts did not appear,
and ! asked him If he thought he could
wsth propriety as The representative OF a
foreign government at this capital. fur
ntsh neW-s9a peTs with such matters. HIS
reply was that he had simply furnished
& as news or Information which the pub
Tic might Ike 20 hear from Honolulu. and
that senator Kyle had received a letter
even more severe IN tts terms, which had
been given to the public. TO which re-
joined that senator Kyle was a citizen
Of the United States. and as such might
say and do things whhch foreign min
lister could not say and do vita rropristy.
Here the interview ended When Mr
Thurston called al the department Two
days later he Informed me that there was
q further sta cement he desired TO make
After beEig told that u he wished 70 say
anything more on the subject 70 should
be In writing, he at once proceeded; I
simply desire 20 say. MI Secretary. that
] realize | Was guilty Of Official impro-
priety in furnishing for publication the
matter mentioned In our former inter
view. / dsa not realize Il at the time. but
DO now / regret what / did, and apollo
gize for u