The record-union., 1896-04-24
MINISTER WILLIS
RETURNS FROM HONOLULU.
Denies That He Has Any Differences
With the Dole Government.
Came Home to Pass His Allotted
Vacation.
A San Francisco Photographer Ends
His Life by Cutting His Throat
Another Sensation Sprung in the
Blythe VIII Contest at San
EranciScO

SAN FRANCISCO, April 23.-A. S.
Willis, the United States Minister to
Hawaii, arrived on the steamer Aus
tralia from Honolulu. Mr. Willis is on
his way to Washington, it is said, to ex
plain the unpleasant position he occu-
pies as to the Hawaiian Government.
During the absence of Minister Willis
from the islands the legation will be in
the hands of the Consul-General.
Mr.. Willis will remain in this city but
a few days before proceeding to Wash
ington. He says he is on a visit to his
home in the East in search of health,
but those who are well informed on Ha-
Waiian affairs say he has been sum-
moned to Washington to set himself
right with the Administration. The re-
lations between Mr.. Willis and Presi-
dent Dole have not been at all pleasant
for some time past. Mr.. Willis has done
many things that President Dole thinks
are unjust, and at one time an effort
was to be made to have him recalled.
Mr.. Willis failed to take part in the
independence celebration January 18th,
and that aroused the ire of President
Dole. The latter thought the American
representative had meant to snub the
ter in Washington was requested to
bring the matter to the attention of
the Administration. No action was
taken by the President at the time.
however, and it was thought the trouble
had been smoothed over.
STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTER
Shortly after the arrival of Mr. Willis
at the hotel he accorded to a reporter
an interview, in which he discussed very
freely the stories which had reached his
ears this morning for the first time
Il do not care said he, ''for my own
account, to contradict the absurd re-
ports which you tell me have come here
by mail on the same steamer thai
brought me. But for the sake of the
people of Hawaii, at whose hands have
received nothing but the greatest kind
ness, and by whose Government officials
] have been accorded only the highest
and most marked courtesies, feel it my
duty to deny the truth of the stories
which you tell me have reached this
country.
My visit here is occasioned largely
by my desire to avail myself of the holi-
day to which 1 am entitled, and so far
as the story that / have been ordered to
Washington is concerned I can tell YOU
that there is absolutely no foundation
whatever in it, and unless 1 am or
dered there by Secretary Olney, L may
not visit the capital before my return to
Hawaii.
Il left behind me the warmest friends.
and so far as 1 know the most cordial
relations not only exist between Presi-
dent Dole and myself, but between all of
those Government officials with whom
have been brought into contact
The report of the Washington's
birthday episode is a canard pure and
simple. On that day did not entertain
any one at dinner, and without any sug-
gestion whatever President Dole sent
the Government band to my home to
play during the evening.
So far as my recognition of the 18th
day of January is concerned that is a
matter upon which / have no authority
to talk. The rules of the State Depart
ment are most positive concerning the
discussion of matters in which either
home or foreign politics are concerned.
Hawaii is the only place in the world
where Minister of this country is cut
off from his Government by wire.
Any action or position that I took
was done after a careful consultation
of the orders under which / was empow-
cred to act for this country, and have
every reason to believe that they have
proved to the entire satisfaction of
those to whom l am responsible in
Washington.
II expect to be in this country a lit
tie over three months, at the end of
which time l will again return to Homo
1,,I,