Birmingham state herald., 1897-06-15
UNCLE SAM LOOKS AT HAWAII With a View of Annexing the
 Island. TREA7 v ALREADY DRAWN UP And R g for Transmission to the Senate F cIdent Mckinley Said to Be Favor
 able to the Treaty.
A7S ALREADY DRAWN UP

(. SshingtoD, June 14.-A treaty for the annexation of Hawaii to the United States win be sent to the senate soon after the return of the president, unless present plans alter The treaty has been written and all its details were fully agreed upon before the president and Sec retary Sherman left for the south. The treaty is on the general lines of the treaty negotiated during the administra- tion of President Harrison and With drawn by President Cleveland. It pro- vides for annexation without the exac- ton of conditions upon the part or Ha- waiians as to the form of government to be ycuchsafci to Hawaii, leaving that question to be entirely disposed or py the government of the United States
 The United States w4ll agree, hNI- ever, to assume the debt of the present Hawaiian government, but will come mo possession of all Hawaiian crown ianoS and other property
 Several senators have received definite information concerning the eA,stehc1 ol the treaty and are well acquainted Wlth its terms although they refuse to discuss the matter, having received the intofma- ton in confidence. Information or the existence of the treaty has been commit nicated to members of the committee on foreign relations and also to me mb rs or the finance cOmIlllI6G. LII lilC lSpupA-- can caucus the subject of annexation has been hinted at, butt in rather vague manner. Senators said they hoped for negotiations for annexation, put they would not aver that such a treaty would soon be sent to the senate. In private conversation with other senators, how ever. they gave information that was definite enough to satisy those With whom they talked that the treaty was not only to be sent in, but that 1t was tfr13r cfE nature of the officers of the two govern- ments to complete 1t. It is well known that the approval of the committee on foreign affairs it assured, as eight gem bers of that committee have approved it's terms and will urge the committee to speedily report it to the senate so that 1t may be taken up as soon as the tariff bill has been disposed of. This has been eanvaSSed to certain extent by senators favoring annexation. and while there are some senators who are non-committal, it is believed by the sup porters of the proposition that they can count upon the two-thirds vote nfce7sary to insure ratification.
 The special friends of tine president about the senate say that the treaty has been made in accorda nlce with his views. | ard that it would have been sent in some time ago. but for his exactions as to de- tails. The present condition fin Hawaii, it is said has had much to do with the favora hle consdera ton of a treaty of annexation The present government of Hawaii and the people who support 1t are very much concerned about the Jap anese situation. Private infcrma ton re- ceived by Hawaiians in this city is to the effect that Japan may at any time take steps looking to the annexation of the island. Sentiment in the senate seems to be that Japan should In no way control the islands or get foothold there This argument has been used to prevent ev,n notice of the abr"gation of the present treety in the tariff bill. It Is said such notice might be followed by Japan's occu- patton and the islard could not be re- gained by the United Sbates without a struggle In this city it is Ssarn7d rela- tions between Japanese and Hawai'ans, which have been reported to the repre- sentatives here. have been of threat ening character.
 It is known that the treaty, although not yet sigrlsd is drawn up ready for signature. and as the president is fully aware of it's scope. there is no reason to doubt that he will authorize it's sigma ture. In this case 1t is expected the document will be sent to the senatet for its action soon, even within a week. 1t is said. in some we'll informed quarters. If this be the case, 1t nav be taken for granted tEat the president has taken steps to assure himself of a favo~sb be reception for the treaty in the senate ari1 to guard aeainst such a mishap as befell the arbitration treaty.