Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25
but some Of the ineidents leading up to its
final publication have not

but some Of the incidents leading up to its
final publication have not
MIR. Thurston,s anxious Inquiry.
81 was appointed minister in june. 1888
On June IL, 1888, I. addressed the following
letter to Mr.. Gresham:
'In confirmation. pfOmy verbal statement
to you upon the 14th instant, I am directed
by my government t0represent to you that
while the Hawaiian government has full
confidence in the good faith Of the United
States toward Hawaiiin and concerning its
treatment of the relations between the two
countries, it seems proper that it should be
informed as to the effect which the present
uncertainty as to the ultimate course to be
pursued has upon the situation in Hawaii.
THE long-continped delay and uncer-
tainty keeps the entire community in
feverish state of mind, by reason Of which
business Is seriously affected; capital Is
rendered timid. thereby hampering all en-
terprises which are conducting their busi-
ness ON credit; the government credit and
ability to borrow is prejudiced; the expenses
of the government are largely increased by
the necessity OF maintaining considerable
armed force for the protection OF public
order, and the enemies Of the government
are encouraged to conspre against law and
order; all of which is highly prejudicial and
Injurious not only to the Hawaiians but TO
the very large amount of American capital
invested in Hawaii, and the mutual trade
now being conducted between the two
countries.
TT is important for the Hawaiian govern
ment to know the intention of the United
States government concerning annexation
at as early date as possible. as if annexa-
ton is not to take place the methods OF
treating local conditions in Hawaii must be
radically different from those to be pur
sued if annexation is to take place.
"It is also important that, whatever the
intentions of the United States government
he ma
Hawaiian government be informed what
such Intentions are before the same are
made public in order that 1t may consider
the situation with full knowledge of all its
aspects and decide upon such course OF ac-
ton as may be necessary to preserve order
and protect the interests of the people Of
Hawaii.
For the reasons above stated, 1 respect
fully request that a decision may he arriv-
ed at and communicated as speedily as is
consistent with the interests Of the United
States.
Mr. Gresham did not reply to this nor
even acknowledge Its receipt.
MIR. Gresham's Statement.
after Mr.. Blount's return, some months
later, 1 vainly inquired 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 questions concerning 1t. /
| verbally reiterated to him that. owing to
| the long delay and uncertainty, affairs were
| unsettled and in critical condition at the
| islands, and it would be in the interests Of
| order and peace to first communicate his
| intentions when decided upon to the Ha-
| waiian government before making them
the evening of November I. 1893, being tenn
| porarily in Chicago, l saw in an evening
paper a statement that Mr.. Gresham had
| recommended to the President to restore
| the queen and overthrow the Dole govern
| menc
Il Immediately telegraphed to Mr.. Hast
| ings, Hawaiian charge d'affaires, to see
| Mr.. Gresham and ask If it was true. Mr..
| Hastings did so, and MIR. Gresham said to
| him, I assure you there is no foundation
| for the statement. Do you think l would
| take SO important step without informing
you? Mr.. Hastings telegrarhed me the
| substance of the reply. That same night at
| about midnight he was informed by a news
paper man that Mr.. Greshams letter to the
| President recommending restoration, had
| been given out to the press associations,
| and was then going over the wires. The
| letter was dated october IS, 1893, nearly a
| month prior to Mr. Greshams assurance
that there was no such letter.
| LAS viii be remembered, this letter
| adopted Mr.. Blounts conclusions through
out. and in substance denounced the par
| ticipators in the overthrow of the mon
| archy as towards. faisifiers and robbers,
| who should be elected in favor of the
| wronged queen. 90
Shortly after the publication of the let
| ter a compilation of extracts from Mt
| Blount's report, most injurious to the Dole
| government, was given to the press from
| the State Department. Later printed cop
| les Of the full report were given out to the
press. No copy was sent to the Hawaiian
| getting a mutilated copy, from which clip
| pings had been made, from a representative
| of the Associated Press.
Newspaper Diplomacy.
Meanwhile 1 had returned from Chicago
| No notice of the letter had been received
at the legation. 1 Immediately called or
Mr.. Gresham and stated that had seen in
the papers letter concerning Hawaii pur'
porting to emanate from him, but that as
1 had received no official notice thereof,
had called to ask If it was authentic. He
replied: of course-you know it is authen
tic 1 reminded him of his agreement t.
let me know the substance Of the Bloun
report before it was published He replied
I did not think it necessary. l knew yot
would see it in the papers,
| Il then asked if it was the Intention o.
the United States government to restor,
| the queen by force. He replied: 1 decline
to answer that question: l asked what, +
any, instruction had been given to Mr.. VIII
lis.
| He replied, I cannot answer you
81 then asked for a copy of the Blount re
| port After some hesitation, he said n
| mad no more copies, out tndt more WOuit
be printed, and he would send me one. HI
did not do so, and l had to send twice t.
the State Department before copy wa
| secured.
1.-The publication of the Blount report an,
Secretary Gresham's letter placed me in al
embarrassing position. On the one hand
was the diplomatic representative of Ha
vail and by conventional rules was no
authorized to discuss questions affecting
} the two countries, except with Mr.. Ores
ham. On the other hand, Mr.. Gresham
was publishing broadcast false and de
famatory matter concerning myself an
those whom l represented; administrator
papers and members of Congress were TAX
: ing the charges up and reiterating then
: and public opinion was forming. l coult
not hear from home, nor obtain denials no
explanations from there for weeks. Mos
, of the matters treated of by Mr.. Bloun
and Mr.. Gresham were peculiarly within
my personal knowledge This they knew
but had persistenly refused to give me
hearing.
II was being held subject to all of tn
obligations, while accorded none of tn
rights or privileges of a diplomatic position
Choosing Their Ground.
with regret, I was forced by the neces
stiles Of the situation and the tactics Of tn