New-York tribune., 1897-12-19
JAPAN NOT AFTER HAWAII.
MINISTER HOsHI REPLIES TO JOHN W.
FOSTER

HE SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT HAS 40 DESIGNS. M
MEDIATE OR REMOTE on THE ISLANDS
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION
NOT THREATENING.
Washington. Dec 1S-The views attributed 10
ex-Secretary John w. Foster in recent inter-
view in relation to the alleged danger OF Jap
anese domination in Hawaii in the event Of the
failure Of annexation have occasioned much
comment among the japanese officials in this
city. The japanese Minister said to-day that
in his opinion 1t hardly fair to attempt to
draw japan into the annexation controversy in
this manner.
Every well-nformed person" said he
knows that Japan is holding directly aloof
from that controversy. and that her Govern
ment has given conclusive proof Of the fact that
It has no designs. immediate or remote. upon
the Hawaiian Islands. The friends of annexa-
ton might therefore well afford to allow the
question to be settled upon Its merits without
constantly endeavoring to use Japan as cats
paw. The alleged danger Of Japanese domina-
ton has always been a stock argument with
some OF the overzealous friends OF annexation.
but II has been repeatedly refuted. and Its
repetition now can serve no good purpose.
japanese immigration In Hawaii Involves
no other question than that OF demand and
supply. As quickly as the demand for Japanese
labor In Hawaii ceases japanese immigration
will end. The statistics OF the immigration
Itself show that this is the case. Last spring
the Hawaiian Government. for reasons which
1t is not difficult to understand. reversed its
policy and turned away number OF Japanese
immigrants. and the cry was raised that
Hawaii was In danger Of being flooded with
Japanese. Yet the records show that since the
time when the question Of annexation was first
raised there has been far less immigration
proporionately than N previous years. The
Hawaiian census gives the present japanese
population 24.401. In 1893 II was over 2lOCo.
Between 1890 and 1899 there was increase
in the number OF Japanese residents in Hawaii
OF nearly 1O) per cent. while the increase be-
tween 1892 ami 1897 only - per cent.
This hardly seems to be an alarming state
OF ana.rs. and 1t would appear TO be even less
the outcry upon tho subject the Hawaiian
Government Is at this very time sanctioninS
the immigration OF a comparatively large num-
ber OF Japanese laiorers The Board Of Immi-
grafton has approved the admission Of ~ for
last month alone. and II is estimated that
2,OOD persons will be thus admitted to meet the
increased demand for labor upon the sugar
plantations during the present season.
Whether annexation succeeds or fails. the
Hawaiian Government has 1t in its own power -
guard against any possible danger Of japanese
domination The immigration Treaty Is rcvoca-
bl" upon six months notice. and any part Os
the general treaty which impinges upon Ia
waiian interests can be modified Ivy ncgotiat
conducted In the ordinary manner. All that
Japan asks for herself and for her people in
Hawaii IL that rights lawfully acquired and
hitherto enjoyed without caVll shall not he
arbitrarily withdrawn She has no purpose
OF dominating Hawaii and since the facts
clearly indicate that the presence OF japanese
laborers in the islands In greater or smaller
numbers is something which depends entirely
upon natural causes notably upon the votion
OF Hawaiian employers themselves. her friends
feel that they are justified in strongly dcpre-
eating the Irritating repetition ~ this dscred-
tied argum'nt about the danger ~ japanese
domination"