The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27
CLEVELAND AND
HAWA|'S QUEEN.
Thurston'S Version of the
Blount and Willis
Episode.
HE WAS IN THE WAY.
The Ex.Minister Tells Why He
Was Persona Non Grata to
the President.
DEAD GRESHAM DENOUNCED.
Indirectly Accused of Conspiring
Against the Present Island
Government.
DEAD GRESHAM DENOUNCED.

CHICAGO, ILL, Jan. 26.-A morning
paper publishes long statement from
Lorrln A. Thurston, ex-Minister of the
Republic of Hawaii giving the facts lead
ing to his recall last spring. Mr.. Thurston
says at the outset of his paper that he had
made full reply to his Government of
the complaints against him, but withheld
| 1t until his successor was appointed. 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 re-
call is, in substance, that furnished the
American press Tor publication matter
which contained comments and criticism
upon the policy pursued by Mr.. Cleveland
and Mr.. Gresham toward Hawaii. At that
time Hawaii was represented in Washing
ton by Minister and five Commissioners,
all duly accredited and accepted, who had
formally negotiated and signed an annex
alton treaty, action on which was pending
before the Senate, while the relations be-
tween the two Governments were, as they
always had been, most friendly and
cordial.
Immediately after the Presidents in
auguration information reached the Ha-
waiian representatives that he intended to
withdraw the treaty. Inquiry at the State
Department met with a curt refusal to
confirm or deny the report, and the first
and only news of the withdrawal by MIR.
Cleveland OF the treaty reached the Hawai-
lans through the newspapers. Thus was in
itlated the unique and extraordinary policy
of secreting fromathe accredited and recog
nized diplomatic representatives. of
friendly government matters vitality
affecting them and their country, and of
allowing them to learn of the intentions of
the government to which they were ac-
credited solely through the press.
1.-The immediate and continued endeavors
by the Hawaiian representatives to ascer-
tain the intentions of the President were
met by frigid silence at the State Depart
ment, and the positive refusal either to
state what course the President would pur-
cue or to allow the Hawaiian Commission
ers to make any statements or explana-
tons. Mr.. Gresham's repeated reply was !:
When desire any information from you
1 will let you know. Meanwhile the
Queens agents were accorded full and con-
tidential audiences, and received assur-
suntil he had made All 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 Government and It's
representatives were kept in ignorance
thereof.
''The intention to make an inyesti cation
was soon announced in the press, but Mr..
Gresham refused to affirm or deny it to
the Hawaiian Commissioners. Then the
papers announced that Mr.. Blount 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 superiors. The
first and only information which the Ha-
waiian Government received concerning
Mr.. Blount's instructions was cleaned
from the columns of a royalist paper, in
which they were published in full over
Mr.. Blount's signature, under the heading
of ''An Address to the Hawaiian People,
The manner in which Mr.. Blount con-
structed the report is familiar history.
''After Mr.. Blount's return | vainly in
ouired of Mr.. Gresham what the result
was. He would not even admit that any
report had been made, stating that such
report, if made, was a confidential one and
that it was unfair for me to ask any ques-
tons concerning it.
ION the evening of November 7, $685. be-
ing temporarily in Chicago, L saw in an
evening paper statement that Mr..
obor bod Cd ~ ho
dent TO restore the Queen and overthrow
the Dole Government. / Immediately tele-
graphed to Mr.. Hastings, Hawaiian Charge
d'Affaires, to see Mr.. Gresham and ask if it
was true. Mr.. Hastings did SO, and Mr..
Gresham said to him, Il assure you there
is no foundation for the statement. Do
you think I would take so important step
without informing your Mr.. Hastings
telegraphed me the substance of the reply.
That same night at about midnight he was
informed by newspaper man that Mr..
Gresham's letter to the President, recon-
mending restoration, had been given to
the press.
Gas will be remembered this letter
adopted Mr.. Blounts conclusions through
out. The publication Of the Blount report
and Secretary Gresham's letter placed me
in an embarrassing position. On the one
hand l was the diplomatic representative
of Hawaii and by conventional rules was
not authorized to discuss questions affect
ing the two countries except with Mr..
Gresham. On the other hand Mr.. Gresham
was publishing broadcast false and defam-
atory matter concerning myself aud those
whom represented, administration papers
and members of Congress were taking the
charges up and reiterating them and pub
lie opinion was forming. could not hear
from home, nor obtain denials nor ex-
plantations from there for weeks.
with regret was forced by the neces-
stiles of the situation and the tactics of
the administration to meet them on the
field of their own choosing, and published
a reply over my signature to the charges
contained in the Blount report and the
Gresham letter. No notice was then taken
of the matter by Mr.. Cleveland, but, to
use an American expression, the admins
tration had no use for me from that time