The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-07-27
A POLITE
PROTEST
Against the Annexation of
Hawaii
DIPLOMATIC WAR IS CERTAIN
MORE SERIOUS BATTLING NOT
IMPOSSIBLE :
WAR Is CERTAIN
Japan Does Not Want the Islands
But Does Want Her Treaty
Rights Observed

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK July ga special to
the Herald says that Japan will con-
tinue to oppose the Hawaiian annexa-
tion treaty is conclusively shown by the
latest protest of the Japanese govern
ment, under date of July 10, which is
now made public for the first time.
While couched in polite and diplomat
ic language, the protest is sufficiently
firm in tone to show that japan will
continue to wage a diplomatic war, and
possibly go further to prevent the con-
summation of the annexation policy.
Japan's reply in part is as follows:
LEGATION OF JAPAN, Washing
ton. Sir: Replying to your note Of
date the 25th ult., in answer to mine CT
the 18th ult., regarding the proposed an
nexation of the Hawaiian islands to the
United States, 1 have the honor to In
form you that l communicated in sub
stance to Count Okuma, from whom
am in receipt of Geographic instruc~
tions embodying the views of the i'm
perial government in relation thereto
Taking note of what you say in re-
ply to the presentation, have the honor
TO make on behalf of my government
with reference to the necessity of main
tanning the status quo of HAWAII, the
imperial government has no hesitation
in admitting the predominant influence
of the United States in the Hawaiian
islands
"In their opinion, however, the very
fact that predominance has existed SO
long unquestioned might be urged as a
reason against the disturbance of the
status quo, more especially as practi-
caily the whole population of Hawai-!
acknowledge the paramount Importance
cf the relations of their country with the
United States, while it is understood
that only small fraction of that num-
Der favor annexation.
From this it may be reasonably in
| ferred that the predominant and para
mount influence of the United States.
which, as you remark. has been tke one
I essential feature of the status quo
through quarters of a century. in
which the constitution and government
of Hawaii and the commerce of the
Islands with the world have undergone
notable changes furnishes on the one
hand the amplest guarantee against
anything inmical to either the United
States or Hawaii, While on the other
hand it obviates the necessity of a
change in existing conditions which will
injuriously affect the interests of others
"The policy of colonial expansion
among European countries was espe-
cially active on the Pacific during the
decade ending 1892, and as result near
ly all the island groups then autono
nous have passed under the sway Of va
rious western powers. BY common ac
cord the powers have recently appeared
willing to stay their hands, and interna
tional rivalry and conflicting inerests
are now the best guarantees for the con-
tinued sovereign existence of the few re-
naming island groups. Yet the alb
sorption by the United States of such an
important part of the few remaining
unappropriated regions as Hawaii would
doubtless be the signal for the renewal
of dormant territorial ambition in the
Pacific, and the last vestige of native au
tonomy would disappear
1T can easily be seen how this would
affect the interests of Japanese subjects
who are now engaging in increasing
numbers in various undertakings and
enterprises in the Pacific, with profit to
themselves and advantage to Japan. 1t
was precisely on account of the preva-
lence of this spirit Of colonial absorp-
tion that one of your honorable pre-
decessorS was led to declare to the Ger
man government that your government
attached great Importance to the "main
tenance of the rights to which the United
States becomes entitled in the few re-
naming regions now under independent
and autonomous native governments in
the Pacific ocean,
1.-The justice of that declaration cannot
be questioned, and the imperial govern
ment, entertaining similar views, could
not behold with indifference such
changes in the status of those govern
ments that would extingush Japanese
rights.
"They have no intention of question
ing the actual situation in the Pacific,
and certainly no desire to in any way
disturb it; but their position in that part
Of the world renders it impossible for
them to view with unconcern and in
spirit of acquiescence the consequences
which would probably follow the extinc-
ton of the Hawaiian sovereignty
The imperial government recognizes
it as a well esta blished principle of in
tern rational law that the completion of
annexation would render the treaties
and conventions at present existing be-
tween Japan and Hawaii voidable eth
er at the option. of Japan or the United
States; but they cannot anticipate with
out apprehension the consequences,
whether direct or indirect, which would
follow the practical consummation of
the theory that annexation ipso facto
means the immediate termination of
those treaties and conventions and the
consequent cessa ton for the future of
the privileges granted hereunder.
Under the circumstances only the
most cursory view of the actual situa-
tion is required to show the disadvan-
tageous position in which Japan would
be placed by the abrupt termination Of
her treaties and by the consequent alb
sence Of satisfactory conventional stip-