The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-24
Lei AnneSation
Be Our Answer
From the Philadelphia Press.

Count Okuma, Japanese minister of for
eign affairs, judging from two interviews
which have come from him since the
question of the annexation Of Hawaii has
been before the senate, takes the most
friendly interest in the affairs of the
United States. Early in July he was
considerate enough to point out that we
should be satisfied in maintaining the in
dependence Of Hawaii, and he then ad-
vanced the argument, which has been
quite the feature of succeeding anti-an-
neXation comment, that in our continental
solidarity lay our strength and any ad-
vance in the Pacific would weaken us.
In these suggestions Count Kouma was
undoubtedly following the line of the di-
plomacy of polite indirection. However,
as annexation would not down, in his last
utterance the astute Japanese statesman
grows a little shriller in argument, and
reveals the fact that the true reason for
his consideration lest the United States
make a strategic mistake Is due absolute
ly to his recognition Of the commanding
value of the Hawaiian Islands to the
United States.
In way that should shame the anti
annexationists in Washington, Count
Okuma dropping all disguises of dsn-
terestedness, proclaims boldly that the
Hawaiian Islands now, but more partlc"
ularly on the completion of the Nicara-
guam canal, will be the great entrepot and
the controlling center of commerce in the
Pacific, and that this gives them an in
ternational status. With far-seeing in
sight he notes that the nation dominating
these islands possesses not only potent
commercial strategic advantages in times
of peace but in them has no less signal
defensive advantages in the more remote
possibilities of war. Inspired by this, he
naturally attempts to throw the cloak of
international rights and the alleged spe-
cial rights of Japan over the islands and
boldly AYERS these conditions do not al
low the United States free action in the
question of annexation. And so he would
| forbid It, possibly prevent it, and insist
that the United States maintain shad-
owy protectorate until, doubtless, Japan
was ready for the final stroke.
%
Having spoken so clearly, the reply of
the United States should be equally cer-
tain in tone. 1t should be annexation.
The approval of the pending treaty now
could not be called hurried, since the
whole question has been before congress
and the country since 1898. The argu-
ments of Count Okuma are all annexation
arguments. All that he says of the stra-
| tegic value of the islands far-seeing
statesmen in the United States have long
subscribed to. And in this matter of
willing to take a hint from Great Bri-
| tain's notebook. This great nation is
| untring in its efforts to acquire points
of value for Its peaceful commercial de-
velopment or for it's defense. be they the
| merest storm-beaten rock or sun-baked
| sand-pit peopled by the lowest of man.
| kind And it is equally untiring in its ef-
| forts to prevent other nations from pro-
| tecting their commerce or coasts in like
| manner. Hence, in its opposition to the
| annexation of Hawaii Japan but repeats
| in it's own vernacular the favorite meth
DDS of British diplomacy.
| AS annexation meraces none Of Japan's :
vested rights in Hawaii which Count Oku-
ma talks about, and as Japan by no pro-
cess of coolie contract immigration
neither by the Kalakaua treaty of 1871
| nor by the labor convention of 1886, ac-
| quired a lien on the future relations OF
| Hawaii, the solution of the whole prob
| lem and the sole reply the United States
| should make 10 Japanese contention Is
annexation. AS the United States by an
neXation will continue to deal justly by
Japan, there can be no cause for real Of
| fense, since the delusion of the hour In
| Japan as to its rights above and in con-
travention of international law will van
ish as soon as this government fulfills its
manifest destiny and Hawaii is part OF
the territory of the United States.