San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-26
HAWAIIAN Annexation
Japan'S Reply To The
United States.
SHE ACTUALLY TALKS OF HER
ACQUIRED RIGHTS IN
HAWAII
Seems To Imagine She Has Vested
Rights In The Pacific Islands.
DisllaimS Any Idea Of Taking
Possession Herself. But
Makes A Big Bluff At
Uncle Sans Doing So,
New York, July Pa special to TIL
Herald from Washington says:


Herald from Washington says:
That Japan will continue to oppose
the Hawaiian annexation treaty is
conclusively shown by the latest pro-
test of the japanese government un-
der date of July 10, which is now made
public for the first time.
While in polit and diplomatic lam
guage, the protest is sufficiently firm
in tone to show that Japan will con-
tinue to wage a diplomatic war and
possibly go farther, to prevent the con-
summation of the annexation policy.
Japan's reply is in part as follows:
Legation Of Japan, Washington,
July 10. Sir: Replying to your note
of date the 25th ult., in answer to
mire Of the 18th ulr., regarding the
proposed annexation of the Hawaiian
islands to the United States, have
the honor Of informing you that COM
municated its substance 50 Count Ok
GUIANA, from whom l am in receipt
of Geographic Instructions embodying
the views of the imperial government
in relation thereto.
Taking not of what you say in reply
to the representation / had the honor
to make on behalf of my government
with reference to the necessity of
maintaining the status quo of Hawaii,
the imperial government has no hesi-
tation in admitting the predominant
influence of the United States in the
Hawaiian islands. In their opinion,
however, the very fact that such pre-
dominance has existed so long un-
questioned might be urged as a reason
against the disturbance of the status
quo, more especially as practically the
whole population Of Hawaii acknowl-
edge the paramount importance of the
relations Of their country with the
United States, while it is understood
that only a small fraction of their
number favor annexation. N..
For this it may reasonably be inferr-
ed that 1.-The predominant and para
mount influence Of the United States"
which, as you remark, has been the
one essential feature of the status quo
through three-quarters of a century,
in which the constitution and govern
ment of Hawaii and the commerce of
the islands with the world have under
gone notable changes" furnishes on
the one hand the amplest guarantee
against anything inimical to either the
United States or Hawaii, while on the
other hand it obviates the necessity OF
change existing conditions which will
injuriously affect the interests of 9TH
ers.
The policy of colonial expansion
among European countries was es-
pecially active in the Pacific during
the decade ending 1892, and as a re-
suit nearly all of the island groups
then autonomous passed under the
sway of various western powers. BY
common accord the powers have re-
Gently appeared willing to stay their
hands, and International rivalry and
conflicting interests are now the best
guarantee of the continued sovereign
existence of the few remaining island
groups. But the absorption by the
United States of such an important
part of the remaining appropriated re-
gion as Hawaii, would doubtless be the
signal for the revival of dormant ter
ritorial ambition in the Pacific. And
1t is not too much to apprehend thai
a partial redistribution of colonial pos
SESSIONS among tne various western
powers might also follow.
1t can easily be seen how this would
affect the interests of Japanese sub
iects, who are now engaging in in
creasing numbers in various undertake
ngks and enterprises in the Pacifics, |
with profit to themselves and advant- |
age to Japan. 1t was precisely on ac-
count Of the prevalence of this spirit |
If colonial absorption that one of your |
predecessors was led to de- |
,lare to the German government that |
your government attached great i'm
oortance to ''the maintenance of the |
lights to which the United States has
become entitled in the few remaining /
'egions now under independent and |
autonomous native governments in the
Pacific ocean"
The Justice of that declaration can