Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-05
NEGOTIATIONS HALT
Hawaii Has Not Replied to Japan's
Latest Note.
TEE DISPUTE OVER IMMIGRATION
Honolulu to Have Better Foreign
Mail Facilities.
PROPOSED PACIFIC CABLES

PROPOSED PACIFIC CABLES
Correspondence of The Evening Star
HONOLULU, June 90, 1897
Although we average six steamers a
month each way. it has been eighteen days
since we could send a mail, aud a similar
interval will take place next month, five
boats to San Francisco being crowded mt
twelve days. After July this will not again
occur owing to third boat being put on
the Vancouver line, and their running time
being altered so as exactly to alternate
with Spreckels' Oceanic line between Syd-
ney and San Francisco, so as to give Us
mails each way every fourteen days at the
farthest. Our favorite old standby CT
twenty-one years service, the Australia
also runs between Honolulu and San Fran
cisco every four weeks, about one week be-
fore or after the Sydney ships Then we
nave besides two steamers a month each
way calling here between Yokohama and
San Francisco. The schedule shows that
after July there will be no interval OF over
eight or nine days without mails both
ways. There will be quite regularly four
steamers a month hence to San Francis
and two a month each to Vancouver, sgd
ney and Yokohama. OF course, this is only
a beginning of the immense commerce of
the Pacific, of which Honolulu is to become
the central meeting point in a few years.
For the coal supply of these steamers an
average OF three large sailing ships a
month bring coal from Newcastle, in Aus
tralia. Some twelve cargoes of coal in ad-
dition come annually for local consumption
on railways, pumping stations, etc. To ac-
commodate this rapidly increasing traffic,
enlargement of our harbor is much needed
One of the two new ships proposed is now
nearly finished excavating by dredger in
the coral reef to depth of thirty feet,
length 400 and breadth 40. This will ac-
commodate at once two first-class steam
ers, which will suffice for immediate wants.
The land filled in by the dredging will add
some three acres for piing coal or lumber.
Whenever Honolulu harbor becomes too
strait for the traffic, the neighboring ca
pacious Pearl harbor will be available.
Relations With Japan.
We are happily without anything of very
serious Importance to report. My last of
May q stated the substance Of the very
important request of the japanese minister
for reversal of the course of this govern
ment iE excluding japanese immigrants
ard for considering the payment Of indem
nifty for the injury done in sending back to
Japan LIPS persons. The firm denial
made by this government on May "a was
also reported, as well as the substance of
published interview of a press repre-
sentative with Minister Shimamura imme-
diately after he had received Minister Coop
er's letter of refusal In that interview
Mr.. Shimamura expressed himself more
warmly than discreetly. 1t appears that
his excellency had just been entertained at
the hospitable reception of H. B. NJ. COM
missioner on Victoria's birthday, and
consequently more communicative than
diplomatic. However, "in vino veritas,"
and the minister no doubt disclosed the
disposition and intentions of his govern
tn .flVlreS
IDENTIFY that intention then was to enforce
upon US their construction of treaty stip-
ulations, and to compel Hawaii to submit
to an unlimited Japanese immigration, as
we'll as to facilitate the naturalization of
such immigrants and their endowment
with the voting franchise. -.
Our government fully understands such a
policy to be fatal to our independence of
Japan. 1t would end, in from three to five
years, in our falling under the political con-
troll of the overwhelming numbers or Jap
anese poured in upon US from their teeEl-
ing population. What is equally important,
our government has a well-considered con-
vction of the legality and equity OF the
measures they have taken to check and
limit this immigration, and which they de-
terminedly enforced in March and April
last. AS yet, however, owing to the pa
culiar style of proceeding of the japanese
Minister Cooper has found
no suitable opportunity of setting lorth the
grounds of the action taken and the legal
treaty stipulations.
The minister's first communication after
the arrival of the warship Naniwa, with
the Special Commissioner Akiyana. was
not in the proper form of first asking an
of the reasons of the course
taken in returning the immigrants, in al
legged violation of treaty stipulations with
Japan. He assumed himself to be thor
cughly informed Of all the circumstances
ard conditions of the case, and therefore
In position to call for immediate redress
and total change of policy. His attitude
was a peremptory and discourteous one
by the arrival of the warship.
His letter was not at all such would be
to any government which it was
Intended to treat with proper respect. Had
Hawaii no ground for trusting to the sup
port Of some great power to secure fair
treatment such a peremptory and virtually
attitude would perhaps be best
adapted to secure subn issive compliance
with demands Not being however In
such an unsupported position, the assert
iveness of the Japanese attitude was lost
Upon our side, and a reply was made which
yielded nothing, but pointed out serious
errors In the assumptions made by Mr..
Shimamura. 1t may well be presumed that
the significant presence Of Admiral Boards
lee with the United States cruiser Phila-
delpha was much more than an Offset to
the menace of the Naniwa, with her equal
ly powerful battery
Minister Cooper's reply, as before stated,
was delivered on the oath of May. A day
VI lNO idtcI, tHe JdpdEeSe minister called
upon him, requesting an interview in COM
pany with Commissioner Akiyama. This
Interview was to be for the purpose of OBJ
tanning an calculation of various points in.
Mr.. Cooper's letter. Such Interview was
cordially assented to, upon condition that
the discussion should be entirely confined
to points contained in the letter. Mr. Coop
er expressly declined entering upon any
discussion Of the general question; or Civ
Ing explanations thereon other than in
writing The interview was held soon after
and conducted in courteous manner, al
though both Shimamura and Akiyama
made much effort to transgress the limits
set for the discussion and to stray over
upon the general subject.
No Speedy Conclusion Promised.
After these two interviews, upon the
4th of June. Minister Shimamura sent to
Mr.. Cooper formal letter of seventy
eight pages, to which the latter has not
yet found time to prepare a suitable reply.
This paper is largely occupied with expla-
nations and attempted Qualifications of the
first letter. 1t is thought to betray a strong
sense of having gone wrong Commission
er Akiyama, whose hand is manifest I'm
both letters. is reputed to be a diplomat
of more self-esteem than actual ability,
and has probably not distinguished b;r,