The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-02-18
Full Text of Interview Concern
ing His Recall: 4
GRESHAM DIPLOMACY EXPOSED.
1t Was of Most Peculiar Character.
Information as to Proposed Action.
Did Not Give Derogatory Matter to
Press-Inside History of Intrigue.

Following is the full text of L.
4. Thurston's interview regarding
his treatment in Washington, pub
lished by the Chicago Times
Herald:
While in Washington | received nc
information. from the State Depart
ment that any charges had been made
against me, OF that my recall had
been, or was to be, requested, although
the newspapers We're continually sup
piled from that source with a variety
of information upon the subject. II
was manifestly impossible for me then
to reply to charges without knowing
what they were. Upon returning to
Honolulu in April, 1895, sscertaiDed
that no charges or request for my re-
call had been received. Mr.. Gresham's
letter, having n;scarried to Japan,
did not reach Honolulu until April
30th.
l Immediately made full reply to
my own Government but. at their
request, withheld publication unlil
my successor was appointed. Before
that occurred Mr.. Gresham died, and
it seemed importune to publish a
controversial statement iii which he
was involved. After that the matter
soon became ancient history, and, al.
though it left me in the unfortunate
position of tacitly admitting the truth
Of he oh II Oh
tinued to keep sileuce had not Presi-
dent Cleveland gone out OF his way to
resurrect the matter and drag it into
his message to Congress by stating
therein that "Mr. Thurston having
given abundant reason for asking for
bis recall, that course was pursued"
Leading Incidents in The Case.
Whether there was abundant rea-
SOM for such course involves the
story of the relations of Hawaii and
myself with Mr.. Cleveland and Nj
Gresham for two years. Msny details
bearing directly upon the issue l can
net give without making the state
ment too long. l will. therefore, only
refer to a few incidents that indicate
what Mr.. Cleveland's aud Mr.
Gresbam's ideal OF diplomatic usage
and courtesy was-an ideal which
they consistently lived up to
The gist of the only charge made
against me in the letter requesting
my recall is, in substance, that fur
nished to the American press for pub
matter which contained com
meuts and criticism upon the policy
pursued by Mr.. Cleveland and Mr..
Gresham toward Hawaii.
Before stating exactly what did in
this respect, aud why / did il, it is
necessary to an understanding of the
situation to state the facts leading up
thereto, which began with the first
week of Mr.. Cleveland's Inaugural
tiou.
At that time Hawaii was repre-
scented at Washington by minister
and five commissioners, all duly ac-
credited and accepted, who had for
mally negotiated aud signed an an
neXatioD treaty, action on which was
pending before the Senate, while the
relations between the two Govern
ments Were, as they always had been,
most friendly and cordial.
Immediately after the Presidents
Information reached the
Hawaiian representatives that be in
tended to withdraw the treaty. In
quiry at the State Department was
met with curt refusal to cOntirm or
deny the report, and the first au'i only
news of the WITHDRAW wal by Mr. Cleve-
land OF the treaty reached the Hawai-
ians through the newspapers.
Unusual Style OF Diplomacy.
Thus was initiated the unique and
policy of secretlng from
the accredited and recognized diplo-
matte representatives OF friendly
matters vitality affecting
them and their country, and of allow
ing them to learn OF the Intentions OF
the government to which they were
solely through the press.
The immediate and continued en-
deavors by the Hawaiian representa-
lives to ascertain the Intentions of the
President were met by frigid silence
at the State Department, and the pos
tive refusal either TO state what course
the President would pursue or 10 allow
the Hawaiian commissioners to make
any statements or explanations. Mr..
repeated reply was: "When
desire any Information from you l
will let you know" Meanwhile the
queens agents were accorded full and
audiences, and received
that the President would
do nothing until he had made al in
From this time on the royalists
were kept fully informed of every in
tended move contemplated by the
Mr.. Blount or Mr.. Willis
Hawaii, while the Hawai-
ian Government and its representa-
tives were kept in ignorance thereof.
The intention to make an investiga
ton was soon announced in the press,
but Mr.. Gresham refused to affirm or
DENY it to the Hawaiian commission
ers. Then the papers announced that
Mr.. Blount had been appointed and
had started for San Francisco, whence
he was to go to Hawaii on a special
steamer Still Mr.. Gresham refused
to admit or deny anything, or to grant
cur request to be allowed to send a
telegram by the special steamer to the
in Hawaii. 1t was not
until months after that he would even
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