The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-24
MUST PACIFY THE MIKAD0.
JAPAN's PROTEST VIRTUALLY AN
ULTIMATUM.

1t Is Not Directed Against the Form
of the Proposed Hawaiian Annexn-
tiOn Treaty, but Opposes Annexn-
tiOn as BEING Opposed to Japnn's
Intcrests-NO Inclination to Weak
en- shown by the Committee, But
Every Effort VIII BE Made to
Avoid Complications.
Washington, June 23.-The Hawaiian
annexation treaty formed the principal
topic of consideration by the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations at it's brief
| session to-day. The treaty and accom-
panying papers were read and referred
| to a subcommittee, consisting of Sena-
| tors Davis Foraker and Morgan, with
| instructions to investigate the entire
| question and report to the full commit
| tee. The papers read included the pro-
test made by Japan against annexation.
The subcommittee will consider all the
! complications likely to grow out of an
nexation, including those referring to the
! trade relations of the islands. This will
| involve study of all of Hawaifs treaties
with other countries The inquiry neces-
sarily will require considerable time and
no effort will be made by the full commit
tee to take the subject up until the sub
committee shall be able to report on all
the details.
| The realization of this fact has led the
members of the committee to conclude
that it is improbable that the committee
as a whole will be able to pass upon the
subject during the present session.
| rati el1r haa ri n O
upon the merits of the treaty at to-days
meeting, but the few utterances that were
| heard sustained the estimate heretofore
| made of the complexion Of the committee,
| namely, that at least eight of the eleven
| members would favor ratification. There
is a possibility that the number may be
| increased to nine.
| The protest from Japan is considered in
a more serious light than was at first
made apparent and the committee took
| exceptional precaution to prevent the pub
| lication of its proceedings. The protest
| was accepted as almost an ultimatum on
| Japan's part to the effect that the treaty
/ must not be perfected. 1t is not a protest
| against the form of the document as had
| been supposed in some quarters but
| against the document itself, or rather
| against the transaction as being opposed
| to Japan's interests.
| The specific reason alleged for the pro-
test is that the consummation of the
| agreement between Hawaii and the
| United States would disturb the existing
| trade relations of the North Pacific and
| nullify treaty rights.
The protest is in such definite terms and
| is directed so squarely at the transaction
| as to cause the committee to feel that the
| entire matter should be handled with the
| tffo afr mi
in which complications of a serious nature
| can be avoided.
While there is no disposition on the part
| of majority of the committee to weaken
| in its support of the treaty, there is a gen
| eral feeling that the friendly relations
| which have always existed between Ja-
| pan and the United States call for great
| deliberation and especial care in proceed
ing in the matter. Hence the determine
| ton of the subcommittee to consider all
| the details, the decision to keep the pro-
ceedings of the committee from the public
and the probability that the committee
| may not be able to report during the pres
| ent session of congress.
With reference to this latter point 1t
| may be stated as extremely probable that
! the matter will be held in allegiance by
| the subcommittee until congress convenes
| in regular session next December, for the
| double purpose of permitting the commit
|
as possible and TO permit the executive to
| exert its best efforts through the use of
! diplomacy to persuade Japan of the un-
| wisdom of her course. 1t is understood In
| this connection that this delay Is in ac-
| cordance with the wishes of the adminis-
traton as intimated to members of the
| Senate.
| The opinion was expressed in the COM
| mittee that a document of the character
| of that filed by Japan would, If presented
| by a nation more nearly the equal of the
| United States, lead to very serious difficult
ties but there is a general desire to ex-
| tend unusual consideration toward the
| Asiatic state, not only because of the uni
| formly friendly relations existing between
| that country and this, but also because II
| is felt that Japan's success In her war
with China may have had the effect Of
arousing a spirit of combativeness which
| is not warranted in the opinion Of the
| members of the committee, by her rela-
| tive size and Importance as compared with
| the United States.