Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25

usual. forwarded from the State Department
to the White House, with Mr.. Hastings
name included. 1t came back with a mark
drawn through 1t. placed there, we are re-
liably informed, by Mr.. Cleveland himself.
Mr.. Hastings was not invited to the dinner,
although the charges d'affaires of other
countries were.
ION January 25, 1894, made a statement
to Mr.. Gresham concerning the friction that
existed In Hawaii by reason Of the continued
demand by Japan that the franchise be
granted to Japanese.
HE said: What do you mean by coming
to me with complaints about Japan? Do you
expect us to protect you from Japan? 1
should think that the last country in the
world you would appeal to for assistance
would be the United States. It is most ex-
traordinary that you should make this state.
ment to me. What do you want me to dor
II replied that had not applied for assist
ance. nor did I want him to do anything;
that the United States had for years fol-
lowed a certain line of policy concerning
Hawaiis relations with other foreign pow
ers; that was simply stating fact, and
that it was entirely for him to say whether
or not 1t was of interest to or concerned
American policy or interests. He reiterated
his former statements In different forms.
several times and wound up by branching
off from the subject entirely, and demanded
what President Dole meant by sending an
insulting reply to Mr.. Willis referring to
the queen be reStored). 1 denied that the
answer was, or was intended to be, insult
ing. Mr.. Gresham said: i say 1t was insult
ing, and Mr.. Dole's sole object was to say
something sharp to the American minister
when he had the opportunity
He continued to talk in this strain until
1t became manifest that he was simply try
ing to provoke quarrel. and left the room
Trying to Quarrel.
During the summer and fall of 1894 was
49,
z, 1895. I returned to Washington, and called
the next day on Mr.. Gresham to see about
presenting my credentials from the republic
of Hawaii, which had taken the place of the
provisional government After stating that
| they would be received, he said, in gruff
way: What did your government mean by
complaining to us that arms were being
shipped from California to Hawaii" / re-
piled that knew of no such complaint; that
had arrived only the day before, and knew
nothing Of it. He said: Yes; they COM
| planned to US, and I have investigated the
! matter. and there isn't a particle of founda-
| ton for it. They have put US to all this
| trouble without any reason Q'y a remark
| allie coincidence the instruction made pos
sble by the use of these very arms had
| broken out the day before, and at that very
| hour Charles Carter lay dead in Honolulu.
| shot to death with one of the guns which
Mr.. Gresham had investigated and found
| did not exist)
| Continuing. Mr.. Gresham said: I guess
your minister Of foreign affairs (Mr. Hatch)
| is scary kind of fellow, isn't he? 1 re-
| piled: No. On the contrary, he is unusually
| cool and clear-headed.' He said: Well, he
acts like it, anyhow. l can see no reason for
| the complaint he made. He even put Mr..
| Willis to the expense of telegraphing it over
| here
He continued to talk in this strain, with
| an exceedingly harsh manner, until be-
| came convinced that he was seeking to pick
a quarrel with me, as there was no occasion
Oin ha cub nf xurht nlr hn
| knew that / was ignorant.
| about this time President Cleveland sent
| message to Congress recommending that
| England be allowed the exclusive use of
| Necker Island as a cable station.
| The Cable Question.
After 1t became manifest that both
l ouses were hostile to the proposition, act
| ing under instructions from my govern
ment 1 called on Mr.. Gresham and stated
| that our legislature was about to meet;
| that we were extremely ANXIOUS to do
| everything possible to facilitate the con-
| strIction of cable; that We would prefer
| enc 10 San Francisco rather than to Cana
| da. although the latter was better than
| no cable; that as it did not seem probable
! that Congress would consent to the British
| proposition, we were DESTROYS of ascertain
| irg whether the United States would favor
Joining with Hawaii In laying a cable to
| San Francisco. He said: How can you
with any propriety make me such a propo-
sition when you have already agreed with
| England to lay cable via Necker Island
| and have asked our consent therefor"
Il replied. in substance: We have not
agreed with England ~nor requested your
| consent. England has made request OF
Us which we have not granted. but have
referred to you for consideration. 1t is for
the United States to Sc y whether the re-
quest of England shall be granted. II the
| United States is not going to assist a cable,
! then we want the British cable, although
l American hnwnVar
| Congress refuses the request Of England,
then want to know whether you would
| favor assisting 4 San Francisco cable
| He said, with an air of severity: con-
slider your inquiry in the highest degree
improper, and evidencing had faith on
the part Of your government toward Eng
| land, and l will not consider it This end
| ed the interview.
The Neutrality Matter.
ION February Is, 1895, the Wahlberg, the
schooner which took the arms to Honolulu
which We're used in the Instruction, ar
rived in San Diego and was seized by the
collector for violation of the neutrality
laws.
Acting under instructions, first infor
mally and then by letter drew Secretary
Gresham's attention to the ii,fraction by
the Wahlberg of the I sl1ttality laws, ant
, | requested that proceedings be taken againS
! the ship and the captain, Offering to fur
. |
, | would look into the matter and let M
, | know what would be done.
Having heard nothing from him, and be
, ing Informed that no proceedings had beef
, | instituted, I again called on him O.
/ about February 26, and inquired about thu
: matter.
In an impatient mar ner he said: 'Wha
, do you expect me to do? This Is like thu
, complaint that Mr.. Hatch made-charge
, | with evidence
81 replied that all of the evidence was a
! | his disposal; that 1 had simply been wait
, ing to hear from him, and Immediately sen
him a full copy of it, also setting forth tn
, section of the statute alleged to have beer
i violated, and a decision Of the Unite,
= States circuit court constituting it.
+ "Altffough the necessary witnesses wer
+ sent to San Francisco from Honolulu an
, Secretary Gresham informed thereof, n
action was taken, and neither letter wa
, answered Or acknowledged. I saw by tn
newspapers that the Wahlberg was re
, leased, but no explanation was given, an
, no disavowal made or regret offered tina
American arms had been transported in a
| American vessel from an American por,
contrary to treaty obligations and neutrali
. ty laws, and used to assault friendly gov
eminent.