The San Francisco call., 1897-06-10
Wild Diplomatic Rumors
Strongly Denied in
Honolulu.
Prolonged Conference Be-
tween Shimamura and
Minister Cooper.
Studying Piles of Official Papers
and Books on international
Law and Precedent.

HONOLULU, HAWAII, June There is
nothing new in the Japanese matter, ex-
cept that Minister Shimamura and Minis
ter OF Foreign Affairs Cooper have been
holding two hour conferences at the exec
tive building for the past three mornings.
The Japanese Minister took with him to
the first session a big bundle of official
documents received on the Coptic, to-
gether with a carriage-load OF books
mostly works on international law.
Nothing could be learned as to the
nature OF the discussion, as both princi-
pals seem to have buried the hatchet over
the IT recent difficulties and entered into a
defensive alliance not to give out any
thing to the press.
1t may be stated positively, however,
that Hawaii will not under any condition
back down from her present situation,
which is positive refusal to recognize the
right of Japan to demand indemnity for
returned immigrants or to give any as
surance that similar proceedings will not
be taken against future shipments OF the
same class of students" Hawaii still
holds that she has the right to administer
her own laws IN her own way, and not
construe them in a manner to suit jap
anese immigration and steamship com
panies.
There was a wild rumor in circulation
two hours before the departure of the
Australia TO the effect that the morning 5
conference between Minister Cooper and
Minister Shlmamura had resulted in the
presentation of Japan's ultimatum by
the latter o the effect that Hawaii would
be gwen until Tuesday, June 8, to pay the
indemnity demanded, aad that in case OF
refusal the custom house would be
Sc Zed.
Your correspondent at once sought
Minister Cooper and was assured by him
that the rumor was not true. Questioned
a. to the pro ress of negotiations the
Minister of Foreign Affairs said that a
protracted conference wss going on be-
! tween himself and the Japanese represen-
tative which would take several more DAYS
TO enc. There was really nothing of q
| definite nature to give out 10 the public
and probably would not be for some time.
There was no truth whatever in the
statement that any ultimatum had been
served on the Hawaiian Government. He
| said the negotiations had not yet reached
point where such document could be
| brought in.
The Star of yesterday afternoon has the
! following:
People abroad know a great deal more OF
| our own affairs than people actually upon the
! spot Papers from the Orient yesterday in
formed their readers that the Hawaiian Gov
! ernment was going 10 choose the King of Nor
way and Sweden as a mediator in the immi-
grafton trouble between ourselves ana the
] government of the Mikado.
The Malnicho comments upon this piece OF
Intelligence and shows why this Government
h as not chosen the United States or Great
Britain as mediator, and goes on TO say that as
lar as Japan is concerned ii does not care who
becomes mediator, as it knows Japan is in the
right. II may be pointed out that arbitrator,
ana not mediator, is the proper phrase TO be
used. As 10 who is in the right remains to be
seen Each party in a quarrel or dispute has
Keen idea OF It's own merits and believes i'm
pnclty in its side of the question. As ar as
Hawaii is concerned, 1t is very we'll satisfied
that 1t is ia the right, for the matter was well
considered before it was acted upon.