The San Francisco call., 1897-07-25


are no new developments in the japanese
matter, unless Minister Snimamura has
received some dispatches. He did not ex-
pect any until the arrival OF the BaIcic on
the 9th In recent interview President
Dole was asked If there was any new
phase OF the Japanese question for pub
licatiou. The President said at once that
it was the intention OF the executive as
soon as it could be done, to furnish the
press with an epitome of the espond-
ence on the matter.
The public has right to the informa-
tion," the President said.
Continuing President Dole ran over the
list OF communications that had passed
between the two governments. After the
Hawaiian Govern ment had answered the
first letter OF the Japanese Minister con-
tanning tie complaint of his Government
1t received a long letter that had also been
answered as previously reported. The
answer, it will be remem bered, was prom
ised TO be forwarded to his Government by
Minister Shinamura.
AHerward there was presented by the
japanese Minister Resident letter from
Count Okuma. Minister OF Foreign Affairs
before the Hawaiian reply to the second
letter-that asking for explanations of the
first reply-could have been seen by the
Japanese Government
No; this letter of Count Okuma was
not modified in tone from the original
complaint" the President saii in answer
to quest ton.
There was also letter referring to the
discrimination in favor of Chinese immi
grafton. where the planters were re-
quired to take two Chinese for one Japa-
neSe in their labor i'm mportations. The
answer to this complaint was that it was
a matter OF public poliCy-to restore an
equilibrium between the TWO nGtionalities
That end having been accomplished there
was an end 10 the discrimination.
Another note complained that there
were more Chinese in the Hawaiian
Islands now than in 1886, the date of the
labor convention with Japan. Although
IL IS not in the convention, it is in the
spondence relating thereto, that the
number of Chinese in these Islands
should not exceed that al the time the
convention was ratified. It appears that
there is now slight excess IN the num-
Der. The letter on this point is not yet
answered"
Attorney General Smith was inter
viewed later on by another paper and
sa d:
I'VE received no telegram from Minister
Hatch by the last steamer, our only ad-
vices being in the form of a letter an
nouncng the fact that Japan had pro-
tested and giving his opinion that the
protest would hurry along annexation.
The letter was not as replete with inform
alton as | would have liked, but l presume
nothing else OF Importance occurred.
THE Japanese question remains in statu
quo. We have given our views. which
happ n to lie dlametrically opposite those
of Japan, and there we are. The laSt
phase was submitted TO Minister Shima-
mura about two weeks ago, and he felt 1t
his duty 10 submit the matter 10 his home
Government.
I'm ali of our intercourse with him, Min
lister Shimamura has shown himself to be
anxious 10 have the differences seftled
amicably and with as little trouble as
possible. Both publicly and privately he
has been all that any could desire. He is
carrying out the instructions of his Gov
ernment IN asking US 10 accede in certain
things. which We cannot do. He does not
feel that be can give way, and that is our
position. We have certainly made no
headway, and it does not look as though
We can under the present conditions"
The CALL correspondent learns to-day
while there has been no backdown what
ever on her part Hawaii has done everv-
thlng in her power to reach an MICA bic
adjustment of The difficulty, even offering
10 submit the whole matter to arbitration.
All through the negotiations the Hawaiian
Government has placed itself at the dis
posal of the Japanese Minister, and Of
fered him every assistance in getting at
The truth. He has been offered copies of
all testimony taken at the examinations
OF the imm grants prior TO tn ir rejection,
and any other information be mi!ht re-
quire. But it appears that it is not the
truth the Japane,e want, but a salve for
their wounded honor.
In all the negotiations so far THE CALL
correspondent is assured on the highest
authority that the Japanese Government
has resented no evidence in support of
its claims 1t has not made any state
men. OF facts obtained by Investigations
alleged 10 have been made after the re-
turn of the imm grants. 1t makes no
showing against the right asserted by
Hawaii to make any laws restricting i'm
migration itmay deem necessary for self
protection or preservation, and it will
listen neither 10 reason nor arrument.
Boiled down, FL the communications re-
ceived from Japan by Hawaii simply
amount TO statement, iterated and re-
iterated, that Hawaii violated the pro-
ing back the immigrants. and that
HawaiPs immigration laws are in viola
tIon OF the treaty. Japan lays down the
law OF the case as she conceives it, and
will not admit for q moment there is an
other side 10 the question.
This is the exact status of the case to-
day. Hawaii can do no more than she
has done, and has nothing to do but
await development, while Japan appears
to be IN a ouaudary over the matter. I'm
doubtedly Japan has collected feet in
readiness for sending TO the islands, but
she hesitates to send the vessels here. An
officer of the China who was questioned
as 10 he fleet to-day said it was perfectly
true, and that it was lying within easy
distance OF Kobe. While it was lying
under sealed orders 1t was generally ac-
knowledged in Kobe and Yokohama that
its destination would eventually be
Hawaii This officer said further that he
dou bted If il would come here, as many OF
the ships were in bad condition and the
naval authorities feared they would lose
some of them on the voyage. There may
be more truth than poetry in this state
ment
While the United States and Japan are
by the ears over the annexation OF Ha-
waii. Great Britain has been quietly COB
bling up Hawaiian territory unknown to
any of us. The Hawaiian Star of yester-