San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-26
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could not behold with Indifference
changes in the status of those govern
ments that extinguish Japanese rights
They have no intention Of questioning
the actual existing situation in the Pa.
cific and certainly no desire to in any,
wise disturb it; but, their position in
that part of the world renders it inn
possible for them to view with uncon-
Germ and in a spirit Of acquiescence
the consequences which would prob
ably follow the extinction of Hawaiian
sovereignty.
The imperial government recognizes
it as we'll established principle of in
ternational law that the completion of
annexation would render the treaties
and conventions at present existing
between Japan and Hawaii voidable,
either at the option of Japan or the
United States, but the cannot antici-
pate without apprehension and conse-
quences, whether direct or indirect,
which would follow the practical con-
summation of the theory that annexa-
ton, ipso facto, means the immediate
Termination of these treaties and COM
ventions and the consequent cessation
for the future of the privileges grant
ed hereunder.
The justice or expediency of extend
ing to Hawaii the treaty of 1853, is
quite another question Such extern
sion might be inferred from the Lam
guage of the second paragraph of Ar
ticle Ill of the proposed treaty of
the proposed extinction of Hawaii's
existing treaties, but the treaty of 1858
is wholly non-reciprocal and the i'm
perial government is not prepared to
admit that il could be so extended
without its consent.
Under these circumstances, only the
most cursory review of the actual sit
uation is required to show the disad-
vantageous position in which Japan
would be placed by the abrupt termin-
alton of her treaties, and by the con-
sequent absence of satisfactory COM
ventional stipulations for the protec-
ton of her rights and the interests of
her people.
The sphere of Japan's expanding ac-
tivities is in the Pacific. Her trade
with Hawaii Is important and nearly
twenty-five thousand Japanese sub
jects are now residing there Her
commerce with the United States and
with Canada is constantly increasing.
In Mexico and Central South America
Japanese immigrants are welcomed
and trade is springing into existence.
One of the largest japanese steamers
already plies between Japan and the
United States and another is about to
\ be established. 1t is not too much TO
predict that the near future viii wit
ness the Inauguration of other trans
Pacific services. All or nearly all OF
these lines will make Honolulu port
of CALL
The Importance to Japan of the
stable and well recognized commercial,
residential and industrial status which
her subjects have gained in Hawaii is
consequently evident. The growth and
prosperity Of the interests l have emu
merated depend in no small measure
upon it, and hence it must be ac-
knowledged that the concern of the
rights that underlie the welfare OF
commerce in the Pacific are legitimate
and commendable.
In the note under reply you intimate
that vested rights, if any be abolish
ed in favor Of Japan, or of Japanese
subjects in Hawaii would be respect-
ed AS germane to this branch of the
subject, / have the honor to call your
attention to a note addressed on March
4, 1886, by your honorable predecessor,
Mr.. Bayard, to Mr. You Albensleben,
then German minister to the United
States, in reply to the official an
nouncement of the protectOrate estab-
lished by Germany over certain is=
land groups in the Pacific.
Referring to the declaration made
on behalf of the German government
that we'll established right of third
parties" were to be respected, Mr.
Bayard replied that in the absence OF
precise knowledge as to the meaning
intended to be given to the term well
established rights" he believed that
he interpreted it rightly as a declara-
ton that American citizens who al
ready had established or might there
after establish themselves on the is
lands in question in peaceful accord
with the natives and on a footing of
perfect equality with settlers Of Ger
man and other nationalities, would
not be disturbed in their rights of resi-
dnece and Intercourse or Disseminated
against by reason of the establishment
of German protectorate.
Without pausing to consider the an
alogy in many essential particulars
between the principle thus announced
by the United States in 1885, and that
now maintained by Japan, / have the
honor to state that il the United States
government attach to the expression
vested rights" the same significance
given in Mr.. Bayard's note to the,
term well established rights" the inn
perial government would have little
to complain of under this head. But
the absolute extinction of Japan's