Evening star., 1897-06-14
HAWAIIAN RELATIONS
Reciprocity Question in the Hands
of the Finance Committee.
TEE PROPOSED ANNEXATION TREATY
President Mckinley Expected to
Send Message to Congress.
PROSPECT OF LEGISLATION


will decide upon the retention Of the House
exemption clause, which preserves the
.reaty. Members of the committee have
already expressed themselves on the sub
iect, and it is regarded practically set
tied in the committee now, but it Is deemed
desirable to have another caucus, and one
will probably be held after the adjourn
H1ent of the Senate today. 1t is claimed by
tnose who favor the abrogation of the
treaty that if the question had been voted
on in caucus Saturday morning a majority
woulu have favored abrogation. If this
true, the intimations concerning the annex
alton of Hawaii which thus checked the
movement toward abrogation are expected
to still more strongly influence the &C ction
of the caucus when ii meets again.
While none of those who know of the
treaty Is at liberty to make official an
nounce ment, even in caucus, of the nego-
tiatIofS for ann Nation, the private under
standing of the situation has become gen.
eral among republican senators. The out
line of the treaty of annexation having al
ready been drawn up, the matter is to be
called tC the attention of the Congress by
the President in a message. This message
is not expected before the vote is taken in
the Senate the tariff. but events may
hasten 1t. 1t is doubted whether even an
effort will be made to secure action on the
subject at this session. 1t Is certain that
annexation cannot be accomplished with
out a struggle, and its advocates do not be
Heve that quorum of the Senate can be
maintained after the tariff bill has been
disposed of. The purpose is to lay the
matter before Congress at this time, and
refer II to the proper committees, so as tn
have ii acted on early in the regular ses-
SION 1t is probable that the annexation
will be accomplished by simple legislation,
after the agreement between the two gov
ernments as to plan has been submitted
TO Congress.
Mr.. Hatch. The Hawaiian minister a9i
Mr. Thurston, ex-minister to the United
States, had an interview with Acting Sec
retary Day of the State Department Satur-
Gay Afternoon, presumably in reference to
the annexation proposition. TIE Hawaiian
representatives here are losing no oppor
tunlty 10 impress upon congressman and
other public men the urgent necessity of
prompt action in the matter of the annexa-
tion of the islands lest the chance be lost
to the United States.
No confirmation can be obtained at tie
State Department or at the Hawaiian lega-
flon as yet Of the report that the Hawaiian
minister here has made the demands OF
the japanese minister at Honolulu the sub
1ect OF representations to the State Depart
n.ent. Yet ii is not doubted thai the State
department Is acquainted with the details
oI the notes exchanged on tlis subject
from one source or another, perhaps
through Consul General Mills at Honolulu
II not through the Hawaiian legation here
II Is not the policy of the State Depart-
Hnent TO commit itself needlessly in ad-
vance upon such questions are presented
~. inns controversy between Japan and the
Httle island republic, but if ii appears that
Hawaii is but insisting upon exercising a
right IN the regulation of emigration that
the United States has asserted without
regarded as settled that Hawaii will re
eelve the support of our government to that
extent at least.
Details Agreed Upon
Ine treaty was written and all its de-
talis were fully agreed upon before the
President and Secretary Sherman left for
the south. There is no doubt. il is said
OF the Presidents acquiescence in the terms
OF the treaty.
IL Is on the general lines of the treaty
which was negotiated during the admins
tration of President Harrison and with
drawn by President Cleveland. 1t provides
for annexation without the exaction OF
conditlons on the part of the Hawaiians
as 10 the form of government to be youch-
safed to Hawaii. leaving that question to
be entirely disposed of by the government
of the United States. The United STATES
Will agree, however, to assume the debt
OF the present Hawaiian government bur
VIII come INTO possession of all the Ha-
waiian crown lands and other possessions
Several senators have received definite
Liormatlon concerning the existence of the
treaty ana are well acquainted with its
terms, though they refuse to discuss the
matter, having received the Information In
confidence The knowledge of the existence
OF the treaty has been communicated 10
members OF the committee on foreign reIa-
tiOns. and also to members of the fnanc.
committee In the republican caucuses the
subject OF the treaty had been hinted at as
announced In Saturdays Star. Senators
asserted that there was in progress neeo-
t&tons looking to annexation but they
would not aver that they knew trea-v
mac beeiI drawn, nor would they give any
assurances that II would soon be sent To
the Senate. -
Only AwQIfinu
In private conversation with other sena
tors, however. they gave information that
was definite enough to satisfy those with
whom they talked that the treaty was not
only to be sent In, but that 1t was now al
ready drawn and cnly awaiting the sigma
lures CT the officers of the two governments
'e complete IT. 1t is known that the an
proVai or the committee on foreign rela-
ucns Is assured. as eight members of the
,nn nave approved of its terms. This
VIII enable the committee to speedily re,or,
the treaty to the Senate, so that II NAV ha
taken up Immediately after the tariff bin is
disposed of. i %
tain extent by senators favorine annexa-
ton, and while there are some seno,or,
VINO are non-committal. IT is believed bv
the supporters OF the proposition that tbev
can count upon the two-third vote nacac
sary TO insure ratifca alton
The especial friends of the President IN
lFe9ty hcay
N ade in accordance with his yie1xs ca
that II would have been sent in some ,ime
since but for his exactness as to details
Hopeless Opposition to Recfproc,,v
Treaty.
The opposition to the Hawaiian roof,
proeity treaty do not expect to win their
fight for the abroga ton of the treaty. The
private opinion expressed by some of their
leaders Is that proposition such as ont
lined in The Star Saturday, leaving the
matter TO the President, will be adopted.
II Is perfectly plain to every one familiar
with tbe sentiment in the House that no
abrosation Of the treaty can be got
through that body as a feature of the
tarin bill. The House will insist to the
very end that the exemption clause shall be
retained.
The stock argument of those who want
the reciprocity treaty abrogated Is that
this country is losing over $500 900 an
nuaily through the remission of duties
the balance of trade being against US
This ia being hammered on with all the