The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-06-04
THE SITUATION.

ing the troubles with Japan. since
the replv made by Hawaii negoh-
atious have continued, diplomatic
REPRESENTATIVES Of the Two govern
ments have exchanged calls and
correspondence but no progress
has Heen reported from well au-
thenncared sources. The question
~Whar are they going to do about
it, Is as uuanswerable today as It
WAS when the first correspondence
was exchanged.
The Hawaiian Government has
outlined its position and we have
VET to hear that It has sought to
retraer one iot or little from the
full significance possible to give lis
reply 10 Japan's request The at
titude of this Government seems
10 be that there Is really very little
To explain. The law Is plain, and
the action based upon the law
speaks Tor itself; as a state which
RESERVES the right 10 administer its
own business. Hawaii throws the
burden Of proof, the responsibility
Of showing that d wrong has been
committed upon the shoulders Of
Japan. Hawaii maintains that the
contracts held by the rejected inn
migrants were not valid, in short
that the men did not fulfill the
qualifications required of laborers
entering the Hawaiian Islands. If
Japan believes otherwise it must
prove is case.
Japan seems To have assumed an
equally stiff necked position by
practically asserting that its sub
jects have been the victims of UNI
Just discrimination. The first let
ter from the japanese foreign
Office sounded the key spote of that
Governments policy. 1t may be
taken for granted that Japan has
carefully instructed its diplomatic
representative, outlining just what
viii be accepted as satisfactory re
paration Cor what Is considered an
affrour to its national dignity. In
fact It Is generally considered that
Japan's instructions are so explicit.
that a failure TO secure the consid-
Grafton deemed proper viii be re
garded as sufficient grounds for
severiug diplomatic relations
Without the slightest evidence
from either side Of tendency to
give and take the inference Is
easily drawn that there is at least
no improvement in the situation.
The relations are constantly be-
coming more delicate and more
difficult for amicable settlement.
The citizens of Hawaii are firm
in the support Of the Government
policy. There Is no prospect of
the Government retracting unless
forced TO do so by superior outside
influences. Among the japanese
residents, there a few who fear
Japan viii withdraw all its citizens
from Hawaii: some who do not
regard with favor an arrangement
between Hawaii and Japan and
who would perhaps prefer to have
their country accept the situation
rather than resort to extreme
measures. These residents are IN
clined TO criticize their diplomatic
representatives forfailureto smooth
over the affair. They forget how
ever, that the diplomats are but the
agents through whom the policy of
the home Government Is express
ed and carried out. The criticism
seems to be due to thoughtlessness
and cannot exert much influence
in shaping final results. The ma
jority Of the Japanese however, are
steadfast IN their loyalty to the
position taken by their Govern
ment. They have refrained from
any rash action and are quietly
awaiting results.
The men representing Japan are
trained diplomats: men whose rec
ords In other courts demonstrate