Evening star., 1897-07-28
The Negotiations With Hawaii Re-
garding Annexation.
RESPONSE TO JAPANESE PROTESTS
Matter Concerning only the Two
Countries.
TRYING TO AROUSE EUROPE

It Is probable that there will be no fur
ther extended correspondence between the
State Department and the japanese min
lister on the subject of Hawaiian annexa-
tion. 1t is thought that the correspondence
has been carried as far as it can legitimate
ly be. from the point of view of this gov
ernment The position taken by the United
States is that the annexation of Hawaii is
matter which concerns only the two
countries which are parties to the treaty,
and that the consent or approval Of no
other government is necessary to the COM
pletion of the transaction. This being the
case, 1t is felt that for the State Depart
n.ent to enter further into an argument
with the japanese minister to the merit
Of the case would be compromising, in a
measure at least, to the position Of this
government.
1t is probable therefore that the only re-
sponse that will be made to Japan's latest
protest will be polite and diplomatic an
nouncement that the United States does
not regard the annexation of Hawaii as a
matter open to discussion with any foreign
government. The attitude of this govern
ment has been made clear in the history OF
our relations with Hawaii, in the course of
the administration in negotiating the an
neXation treaty without notice to any for
eign government or consultation with X,
far taken place between the State Depart
ment and the japanese minister. There is
nothing more to be said on the subject, and
there are abundant reasons why the ad-
ministration should decline to regard the
matter as one open to discussion.
The Protests.
The first protest might be regarded as a
formal matter. designed by the japanese
government to furnish basis upon which
Japan might build up a claim for special
consideration for her subjects by treaty
with this government after annexation has
been accomplished. The second protest
however, couched in language strong
enough to be subject to msilterpretation
by any one familiar with diplomatic usage
puts the matter in more serious aspect.
1t is an unconditional protest against an
nexation and conveys the Information that
Japan will not recognize annexation.
Japun's Work in Europe.
However lightly State Department Off
cials may dismiss the matter in public
utterances it is well understood that the
terms of the second protest and the fact
that Japan thought it necessary to make a
second protest, warrants credit being given
to the statements made N London and
Paris that Japan is trying to induce other
foreign powers TO join her in resisting an
neXation.
When the annexation treaty first an
QOuGced II vas SAID At the Japanese leSa-
ton here that the great powers of the
world would not permit annexation to be
completed until conditions attending ii
were made entirely satisfactory to all
those governments having any interests in
Hawaii. 1t was admitted also tnat Japan
would like to possess Hawaii, but that
knowing that the United States would not
permit that it was the desire of Japan
that the independence of the islands should
be preserved.
Time for a Firm Stand.
There being no doubt felt that the pro-
test of Japan is more than perfuncrory,
and that effort is being made to lead
other governments to oppose annexation.
it is regarded as desirable to let the world
know at once that we do not regard the
question one open to discussion, before
any other nation is brought into a contro-
versy with us on the matter If 1t is fully
understood that the United States will not
in its position, there will be little encour-
aeement fer any other government tc in
terfere at the instigaton of Japan.
If, howeN er, it is left to be an open ques-
ton by protracted argument on one side
and then on the other, 1t may be inter-
preted as an indication of weakness on the
part Of the United States, and might in
srire the belief that if there We're enough
parties to the protest this government
would yield and permit joint control OF
Hawaii The policy of the administration
Is fixed definitely, and there is felt to be
no reason for permitting the impression to
develop that it may be changed in any re-
SLect.