The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-06-21
Japan Advised to Send
More War Vessels.
Hawaii Said to Have Changed Her
Attitude and is Not Willing
to Allow Claim,

YOKOHAMA, June S.-The YorodZli
publishes the following: Although ne
gotiations have been going on between
Mr.. Shimamura, japanese Minister at
Honolulu, and the Hawaiian Govern
ment, progress is slow. Report has
even reached us that the authorities
are of opinion that it will take three
months before the question is settled
Private kilograms also report that the
Hawaiian Government has refused to
admit our claims, but the Government
has received no information about it.
The whole matter is shrouded in utter
darkness, so that one cannot arrive at
any definite conclusion. What we most
sistance displayed by the Hawaiian
Government. Evidently this is due
to the fact that the United States is
playing the role of a wire-puller.
Though outwardly the trouble is be-
tween Japan and Hawaii, it may be
said that in reality we are dealing
with America in the negotiations.
When the trouble first sprung up the
Government Immediately dispatched
the Naniwa, and now the Hiyei has
been instructed to proceed to Honolu
lu. Now, on the receipt of a report
that Hawaii had refused to accept
Japan'S claim, the Mainichi, a Gov
ernment organ, advises the authorities
to send more warships to Hawaii,
while communications between the
Government and the Minister at
quent. We are greatly surprised at the
unskilful diplomatic ability of Count
Okuma. Should he fail to take any
decisive measures on account of the
United States being at the back of
Hawaii, the people will laugh at Japan
being humiliated by a small Island
such as Hawaii.
The Asahi writes in different
strain. 1t says since the negotiation
was opened with Hawaii on May 18th
no official report on its proceedings
has been received. We cannot, there
fore, surmise how it will come about
after all, The Government, however,
fully recognizes that the matter at is
sue was a breach of the emigration
treaty, and is prepared to compel Ha-
waii to bear out her responsibilities.
To such vague proposal as leaving the
matter to arbitration the Government
is not inclined to agree. For a time
Hawaii, seeing that she was in the
wrong. appeared to be desirous of
bringing the matter to a peaceful set
tlement Her attitude. however, seems
now to have changed, for it is rumored
that she is not prone to accept our
claim, and in consequence, the matter
is very complicated. AS to the conduct
of the Hawaiian Government in the
recent emigrant affair, Great Britain,
Germany, France and various other
countries all concur in their opinion
that Hawaii has, by so doing violated
the comfy of nations. and they SYM
pathize with us.
Though Hawaii persists in upholding
her mistaken contention throughout
she has no legal ground of objection,
except that she maintains, on the
strength of preliminary agreements
for engaging laborers, that the free
laborers were really contract laborers.
Such an objection is too weak to null
lily our claim. Under the circum-
stances Hawaii will at last admit our
claim, asking us to give way to GER
tain extent in the matter of the COM
pensation. Some attribute the delay of
the negotiation TO the United States in
stigating Hawaii, but the question of
annexing Hawaii by the United States
is not at present welcomed in political
circles of the latter country. More
over. the question of the repeal of the
reciprocal treaty existing between the
two countries has of late sprung Up.
In the face of these facts, the Hawai-
ian Cabinet, though it consists of Am
orleans. would not insist on the frivo-
lous ground of relying on the United
States.