Evening star., 1897-06-16
FOR ANNEXATION
A Step Toward Obtaining The
Island Republic.
SIGNING THE TREATY
Action of American and Hawaiian
Representatives.
Scene AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
Reported Objection by the Japan
ese Government.
Action Of American and Hawaiian
Representatives.
Scene At fHE STATE DEPARTMENT
WHAT THE CHANCELLOR SAYS

Department, where four years and four
months ago In the closing hours of the
Harrison administrator the first Hawaiian
annexation treaty was signed only to be
withdrawn from the Senate and thrown
Into a pigeonhole. the representatives of
the governments Of the United States
and Hawaii gathered this morning and
signed a treaty by the terms of which, IL
ratified. the little island republic will be-
come part of the territory of the United
States. or the persons who stood in the
room today three were present when the
original treaty was signed, namely, Speciai
Commissioner Lorin Thurston and Assist
ant Secretaries Adee and Cridler. The first
named perhaps took a more sincere per-
sonal pleasure in the ceremony of this
morning than any of the others, because
of the stirring events of the last four years
in which he was SO directly concerned.
Reason for the EARLY Signing.
1t Is a very unusual thing for a treaty
of such importance to be signed early In the
morning, but in this case 1t was desired
that the convention be made ready early
in order that it might be submitted to the
Senate on the day OF its signature. The
document itself had been prepared care
fully overnight, in fact 1t was practically
completed at the close of Office hours yes
terday. but it was necessary to. make a
close conparison, and the President wished
another opportunity to go over the docu-
ment probably with view to drawing up
a message to the Senate.
Therefore, before O'Clock the persons
who were concerned In the preparation of
the treaty were all at the State Depart
ment.
ho TTpffad Nxyer
tary Sherman, Assistant Secretaries Day,
Adee and Cridler, Private Secretary Bab-
cock and Assistant Private Secretary Gay
troe. ..-..
On the Hawaiian side were Minister
Hatch, Lorin Thurston and w. A. Kinney.
all for this particular occasion accredited
as special commissioners duly empowered
to negotiate a treaty of annexation. After
the formal greetings the credentials Of the
plenipotentiaries were scanned and record
ed. Secretary Sherman alone represented
the United States in the signature of the
convention, and 1t was part of the cere-
mony to record his authorization ny the
President just much it WAS the
credentials Of the Hawaiians from Presi-
dent Dole. Then came the reading and
comparison of the treaty. OF this there
were two drafts. one to be held by each,
later on to be exchanged in the usual form.
Altogether 1t was twenty minutes after
o'clock when all was ready for the sigma
lures. The Hawaiian Representatives bad
brought with them a gold pen in a plain
holder. and at their request this was used
for all of the signatures.
The Party Photographed.
Secretary Sherman signed first the copy
intended to be held here. while Minister
oh rfu Rrek
the treaty. his fellow-commiss:oners com-
ing next in order. Mr.. Thurston first. fol-
lowed by Mr.. Kenney. The treaties were
sealed by Assistant Secretary Cridler with
a private seal carried on his watch chain,
the copies were handed to their respective
custodians and the treaty was made as far
as the executive branch of the government
could effect 1t. There was a general ex-
change of congratulations between the
parties to the ceremony, and. after a pho
tograph had been taken of the commits
sioners, the ceremony was ended.
Objection by Japan.
Before the final signature of the docu-
ment 1t was understood the Secretary OF
State was presented with formal protest
by the japanese government through its
legation here. against the consumnauon
Of the agreement The protest is sad to
be based on apprehension that the special
treaties now existing between Japan and
Hawaii, under which the japanese enjoy
advantages, will be affected injuriously by
complete annexation.
Provisions of the Treaty.
The treaty provides that the government
of the Hawaiian Islands cede TO the United
States absolutely and forever sll rights
Of sovereignty in and over the Hawaiisn
Islands and its dependencies. and that
these islands shall become an integral part
Of the territory Of the United States. The
government of Hawaii also cedes to the
United States all public lands. public
buildings and public property OF every de-
scription. Congress shall enact special
laws to govern the disposition of the lands
in the Hawaiian Islands. All revenue from
these lands shall be used solely for the
benefit of the Inhabitants Of the Hawaiian
Islands for educational and other public
purposes. The Hawaiian Islands shall be
admitted into the Union ~ q territory OF
the United States. local laws to be passed
by q local legislature. but subject to the
approval Of the President. Until Congress
shall apply the laws Of the United States
to the islands the present laws Of Hawaii
sre to govern the islands. The present
treaties and laws governing Hawaiia com
mercial relations with foreign nations shah
remain in force until Congress shat taxa
action Further immigration OF Chinese la-
borers 10 prohibited pending congregational
action and the entry OF Chinese from un-
wau into the United States likewise . pso-
hiblted. The United etatss sssumss IL