The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-08
FULL FORMAL TEXT
JAPAN'S ACCEPTANCE OF ARBI-
TRATION WITH HAWAII RE-
CEIVED AT WASHINGTON.
DELIVERED TO SHERMAN.
FROM THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS TO THE JAPANESE
EMBASSY.
LIMITED TO QUESTIONS OF LAW.
Leopold of Belgium Under the Terms
of Agreement to BE the Sole
Arbiter.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-The full
text Of the formal acceptance by the
japanese government Of the proposal
to arbitrate it's differences with Ha-
wall has been received in this city and
copy was today delivered to Secre-
tary Sherman by the secretary of the
Japanese legation, Mr.. Matsui. 1t is
from Count Okuma, minister Of for
eign affairs to H. Shimamura, Japa-
nese minister to Hawaii After &C
knowledging the receipt of Hawaii's
offer of arbitration, it says:
The imperial government is firmly con-
WINGED that its complaints in this matter are
well founded and that its demands are Just
and reasonable. Nevertheless in a spirit
of Cancellation and in the hope that the
action may contribute to the good relations
of the two countries. it has resolved to ac-
cept subject to certain necessary limitations
and qualifications, the proposal OF the gov
eminent of Hawaii.
Accordingly the 18th ultimo, l tele-
graphed to you to the effect that the Japa-
nese government accepted, in principle the
suggestion of the government Of Hawaii for
arbitration and that the terms and conditions
of such acceptance would follow by mail
81 now confirm that telegram and the
object of this instruction is to explain the
nature of the terms and conditions, an ad-
hesion to which is, in the estimation of the
factory issue of the contemplated arbitration.
The reason assigned by the minister of
foreign affairs of Hawaii in favor of arbitra-
ton make it also desirable that the award,
when pronounced shall be of the highest
and most commanding character. Consequent
ly, the imperial government proposes that
the two governments shall, when the proper
time arrives unite in requesting that his
majesty, the king of the Belgians, may be
pleased to accept the position Of sole arbi-
traitor. The imperial government is, more
| o111 Of In Ancir ohi ifNy of nY
pressly defining the scope Of the reference.
not only in order to Tighten the labors of
the arbitrator but with the view, as well,
that the decision may address itself solely
to the actual points of divergence.
eve, therefore, propose that the two gov
ernments shall agree to the essential facts
of the case and that the arbitration shall be
limited to specified questions at law and TN
the case the award is in favor OF Japan
the measure of damages suffered by the sub
jects of his imperial majesty.
1T is due to frankness that l should, in
this connection state that for reasons which
are fully set forth in another instruction,
the imperial government cannot consent that
the Questi N of the bona fdes of the possession
or of the applicability of the treaty of
1871 to the Japanese subjects, other than
those belonging to the merchant class, shall
be REGARDED as points of issue upon which
the decision of the arbitrator is to be in
vited.
''If the government of the republic is pre-
pared TO meet the Imperial government upon
the foregoing essential points. it is not ap-
pretended that any difficulty will be expert
enced in arriving at an understanding in
reference to questions of minor Importance.
You are consequently directed to COM
municate a copy of this instruction to the
minister of foreign affairs as the reply of
the imperial government to the suggestion
contained in his note of the 2Sth of June.
You will at the same time urgently impress
upon him the Importance from every point
of view of an immediate response.
hiCrnT1 nhrY
I'll A Hfni,r