Evening star., 1897-07-30
JAPAN READY TO ARBITRATE
The Offer Made by Hawaii Has Been Ac-
cepted.
Exclusion of Immigrants and Increas-
ed Tax On Sake to BE the Sub
jects COnsidered.s

The Japanese government has accepted
the offer made by Hawaii to arbitrate the
dispute between the two countries. The
State Department has been informed of the
offer and acceptance. The subjects of ar
bitration will include not only the difficulty
over the landing of the Japanese immi-
81 ants, but also will include other disagfee-
ments between the two countries, the most
important of which is the sake tax i'm
posed upon Japanese liquor largely i'm
ported and consumed by the japanese in
Hawaii.
The acceptance of the offer of arbitra-
ton, a brief synopsis Of which has been
cabled to the Japanese minister here and
given to the State Department, states that
the Japanese government accepts arbitra-
ton in principle, and is prepared to enter
upon the terms for q settlement of pending
disputes. The formal letter of acceptance
has been sent to Hawaii, and the condi-
fons OF arbitration will be contained there
IN Those conditions are not known here.
Pending the arrangement of details, all
other proceedings looking to a settlement
will be discontinued.
When the officials of the State Depart
ment We're informed of the offer and ac-
ceptance of arbitration, the secretary of
the japanese legation here was informed
that Until the annexation treaty was con-
cicceo the United States would not as
T.,
the present dispute must be considered as
between Japan and Hawaii.
1ne secretary, in reply. said he was glad
10 learn that such was the position of the
United States, as it would permit Japan
sending two or three warships to Hawaii
pending final action on the arbitration
treaty.
This Interpretation Of the situation rather
surprised the State Department officials
VINO answered that the United States would
ccrsider in different light an agreement
OF arbitration and the sending of a war
ship, and intimated that non-fnterrerence
Dy the United States in one case could not
De construed as passive acceptance of the
latter position. The japanese secretary
was told. however. that in the absence OF
secretary Sherman and Assistant Secre-
tary Day nothing could CT would be said
officially upon the subject, and any con-
Versatfon must be considered as wholly
unofficial
The sake tax of which The Japanese COM
plain Is ar increase of the duty on this
liquor from 10 cents to 81 per gallon. This;
tax was passed by the Hawaiian Iegisla-
ture ard vetoed by President Dole on the
ground that it was unconstitutional and in
violation of the treaty with Japan, who
mad rights under the most favored ma
tlon clause. The tax was passed over
his veto almost unanimously, only one vote
being cast to sustain the president The
pressure for taxing sake was from the
saloon keepers and the manufacturers OF
liquors, as the Japanese use this liquor al
most wholly to the exclusion Of other bev-
erages. .--
1t is not expected that the State De-
partment Will make more than a formal
acknowledgment of the latest communi-
cation from Japan upon the subject of the
annexation of Hawaii, the understanding
being that all future negotiations will be
conducted by Minister Buck and the Japan
ese foreign office at Toxic.