The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-01

treaty would be undertaken. The fol-
lowing may be accepted as an absolutely
accurate outline of the position of the
japanese legation in Washington:
The japanese insist that the japanese
government has not now and has never
had any designs against Hawaii. This
they consider most important point be-
cause of the talk about colonization,
which. they say, apparently had so much
weight in the discussion of the question.
They contend that the Japanese first
went to Hawaii in response to the de-
mand for labor in the island under pro-
visions of treaty concluded in 1856, ut
the solicitation of the Hawaiian govern
ment. The japanese government mas
always been avcrse to having their peo-
pie go abroad as Coolies" as the Chinese
such immigration. The Hawaiian
treaty was so worded rs TO prevent even
the suspicion of anything like coOle
labor. The interests of all parties were,
they say, protected, and as consequence
the Hawaiian planters secured high
class of agricultural labor upon fair terms
and under circumstances which did not
give the least occasion for the dislike and
[ opprobrium which generally attach to
contract labor. This treaty, they say,
worked admirably for years and until
the planters became restless under the
| conditions imposed by the treaty, think
ing, 80 the japanese hold, that they could
secure labor more cheaply with the re-
| strctions removed. At the same time
| the question of annexation came up and
| the adherents of union with the United
| States thought it would be necessary to
| make changes in the method of obtaining
| the labor absolutely necessary to the
prosperity of the sugar industry of the
island. This was, they claim, the
origin of the so-called voluntary" sys-
| TEN Of immigration to Hawaii.
The development of this situation led
| to the framing by the japanese govern
ment of its immigration law. This law
is very strict in prohibiting the exporta-
| ton Of japanese labor except where en-
| ployment is assured, and it is claimed
| that under its provisions it would be i'm
possible to flood the Hawaiian islands,
as has been asserted to be the japanese
| purpose, without the connivance of the
japanese authorities. This they hold,
| could not be secured, in view of the
| policy of Japan against the expectation
| of coolie labor and in view of the re-
peated denials of Japan of any de-
| signs upon Hawaii.
| The secretary asserts that Hawaii took
| no steps to restrict immigration from
| Japan until last February, when a sud
den and surprising demand was made
| upon Japan to this. end. This, they
| claim, is evidence sufficient that there
was no flooding of the island. They re-
garded this demand from the island gov
| eminent as capricious, and concluded
that it was made for the purpose of in
| creasing. the agitation in the interest of
annexation and to furnish pretext for
speedy action in that direction. To the
same end they consider the cry of dan
nf Ia
aggression to have been raised. They
boot the idea that this fear had any foun-
dation in fact and say that the danger
| existed only in the minds of the jealous
| advocates of annexation. They assert
that Japan has freely explained every
step taken in this controversy with
Hawaii to the United States and they
hold that the fact that such explana-
ton has been made should be accepted
as proof positive that Japan has no
Interior designs upon the islands. In
view of this explanation on their part to
the United States they complain of the
suddenness of the announcement of the
Hawaiian treaty of annexation and say
that the treaty was consummatcd
when they had reason, from official as
surances. for believing that no hasty ac-
ton in that direction was contemplated.
They consider that many subjects of
Japan are entitled to damages on ac-
count of Hawaii's summary refusal to
permit them to land, and that they are
deprived of their remedy by the con-
summation of this treaty. On this ac-
count they are inclined to regard the
action as unjust and arbitrary. They
also hold that Japan has rights under the
treaties with Hawaii, other than those
detailed, including reciprocal immuni-
ties which they fear may hot he restored
/ hnppmps a of