The record-union., 1896-01-27

Contained Comments and Criticism
of the Policy or the Administration
Toward Hawaii.
CHICAGO, Jan. ga morning paper
publishes a long statement from Lorin
A. Thurston, ex minister of the Repub-
lie of Hawaii, giving the facts leading
to his recall last spring. Mr.. Thurston
says at the outset of his paper that he
had made a full reply to his Govern
ment of the complaints against him, but
withheld it until his successor was ap-
| pointed. In the meantime Secretary
| Gresham died, and the story did not
come out.
| Mr.. Thurston says in part: '"The gist
of the only charge made against me in
| the letter requesting my recall is, in
| substance that I furnished to the
American press for publication matter
| which contained comments and crit
cism upon the policy pursued by Mr.
| Cleveland and Mr.. Gresham toward
Hawaii. At that time Hawaii was rep
resented in Washington by Minister
and five Commissioners, all duly ac-
credited and accepted, who had for
mally negotiated and signed an annex
alton treaty, and action on which was
pending before the Senate, while the
relations between the two Governments
was, as they always have been, most
friendly and cordial.
Immediately after the Presidents
Inauguration information reached the
Hawaiian representative that he in
tended to withdraw the treaty. Inquiry
at the State Department was met with
| a curt refusal to confirm or deny the re-
port and the first and only news of
the withdrawal by Mr.. Cleveland of the
| treaty reached the Hawaiians through
| the newspapers. Thus was initiated
| the unique and extraordinary policy of
secreting from the accredited and rec
| ognized diplomatic representatives of
a friendly Government matters vitally
affecting them and their country, and of
allowing them to learn of the intentions
of the Government to which they were
accredited solely through the press
1.-The immediate and continued en-
! deavors by the Hawaiian representa-
tives to ascertain the intentions of the
President were met by frigid silence
at the State Department, and the pos
| itive refusal either to state what course
| the President would pursue, or to allow
the Hawaiian Commissioners to make
| any statements or explanations. Mr..
Gresham's repeated reply was: When I
desire any information from you | will
let you know Meanwhile the Queens
agents were accorded full and confiden-
tial audiences, and received assurances
| that the President would do nothing
until he had made an investigation.
"From this time on the Royalists were
kept fully informed of every intended
move contemplated by the President,
Mr.. Blount or Mr.. Willis concerning
Hawaii, while the Hawaiian Govern
ment and it's representatives were kept
| in ignorance thereof.
.aThe intention to make an investiga-
ton was announced in the press, but
Mr. Gresham refused TO affirm or deny
it to the Hawaiian Commissioners
Then the papers announced that Mr.
BlountA had been appointed and had
started for San Francisco, whence he
was to go to Hawaii on special
steamer Still Mr.. Gresham refused to
admit or deny anything.
arrived at Honolulu, Mr.. Blount
rigidly adhered to the policy of his su-
periors. The first and only informa-
ton which the Hawaiian Government
structions was cleaned from the coll
umns of a royalist paper, in which they
were published in full over Mr.. Blount's
signature, under the heading of An Ad-
dress to the Hawaiian People, The
manner in which Mr.. Blount con-
structed the report is familiar history.
after Mr.. Blount's return l vainly
inquired of Mr. Gresham what the re-
suit was He would not even admit
that any report had been made, stating
that such report, if made. was a conf
Dental one, and that it was unfair for
me to ask any questions concerning 1t.
son the evening of November Z, 1898,
being temporarily in Chicago, 1 saw in
an evening paper a statement that Mr..
Gresham had recommended to the Pres
ident to restore the Queen and over
throw the Dole Government. / in1me-
diately telegraphed to Mr. Hastings,
Hawaiian Charge d'Affaires, to see Mr..
Gresham and ask him if it was true.
Mr. Hastings did so, and Mr.. Gresham
said to him, I assure you there is no
foundation for the statement. Do you
think I would take so important step
without informing you? Mr.. Hastings
telegraphed me the substance of the
reply. That same night at about mid
night he was informed by newspaper
man that Mr.. Gresham's letter to the
President recommending restoration,
had been given to the press. AS will be
remembered, this letter adopted Mr..
Blount's conclusions throughout
THE publication of the Blount report
and Secretary Gresham's letter placed
me in an embarrassing position. On the
one hand / was the diplomatic repre-
sentative of Hawaii, and by conven-
tional rules was not authorized to dis
cuss questions affecting the two coun-
tries, except with Mr.. Gresham. On
the other hand, Mr.. Gresham was pub
fishing broadcast false and defamatory
matter concerning myself and those
whom / represented; Administration
papers and members of Congress were
taking the charges up and reiteratfng
them. and public opinion was framing
I could not hear from home, nor obtain
denials nor explanations from there for
weeks.
With regret was forced by the me-
cessities of the situation and the tactics
of the Administration to meet them on
the field Of their own choosing, and
published reply over my signature to |
the charges contained in the Blount re-
port and the Gresham letter. No no
tice was then taken Of the matter by
Mr.. Cleveland. but. to use an American