The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-30
Japan Ultimatum
Her Protest Considered Al
most in That Light.

Waiiaa anuexation treaty formed the
principal topic of consideration by the
senate committee on foreign relation
at it's brief session to day. The treaty
and accompanying papers we're read
and referred to subcommittee CONSIST.
,ug Of Senators Davis. Foraker aud
Moreao, with Instructions to investigate
the entire question aud report to the
full committee. The papers read IN
cluded the protests Japan made against
the annexation. The subcommittee
viii consider ell the complications like.
" to grow out of annexation. inciud-
! Ing those referring to the trade rela-
tons Of the islands. This will involve
! a study Of all Of Hawaii's treaties With
other countries.
Tie Inquiry necessarily will require
considerable time, aud no effort will De
| made BY the full committee to take
the subject up until the sub committee
shall be able to report on all the de-
tails The realization of this fact has
| led the members Of the committee to
conclude that it is improbable that the
commistee as whole will be able to
pass npon the subject during the pres
tent session.
Comparatively little was said bearing
upon the merits Of the treaty at to-
das's meeting. but tie few utterances
tha, 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 posi-
bility that the number may be increased
to nine
The protest from Japan is considered
in a more serious iignt than was al hsst
made apparent, and the committee took
exceptional precautions to prevent The
publication Of its proceedings: The
protest was accepted as almost an nlti-
na.um on Japan's part to the effect
that the treaty must not be perfected.
Il is not q protest agains. the form of
the document. as bad been Supposed 10
some quarters, but against the docu-
n,ens itself, or rather against the trans
action. as being opposed to Japan's
interests. The specific reason alleged
for tue protest is that the consumma-
5tion Of the agreement between Hawaii
and the United States would disturb the
existing trade relatioas Of the North
Pacific aud nullify treaty rights
The protest is in such definite terms
aud is directed so squarely at the trans
action as to cause the committee to
feel that the entire matter should be
haudled With the utmost circumspec;ion
as the obly way in which complications
Ola serious nature can be avoided
While there is NO disposition on the
part Of msjority of she committee to
weaken 10 its support of the treaty.
there is q general feeling that the
friendly relations which bave always
existed between japan and the Uoited
States call for deliberation and especial
oare 10 proceeding in the matter
Hence, the appointment of the sub
committee to consider all the details,
the decision to keep the proceedings Of
the committee from the public aud the
probability that the committee may oof
be able TO report during the preseot
session of congress. With referebce 10
this latter point it may be stated as ex-
,remely probable that the matter will
be held in abeyance by the sub-commi'-
tee until congress coDvenes 10 regular
session next December. for the double
purposes of permitting the committee
10 MAKE its investigation as thorough
as possible and TO permit the executive
TO exert its best efforts through the use
Of diplomacy to persuade japan of
the uowisdom of her course 1t is
understood in this connection that this
delay is 10 accordance With the wishes
of the administration as iutlma,ed to
jpem5 5ers or the com mittee
O3iaion was expressed in the com-
n:,;se that document of the charac-
ter '.f that fled by japan would, if
presented by nation more neasly 'he
eqnal Of the United States. lead TO
very serious difculfies. but there is .
general desire to extend unusual COO
sidera:ion toward the Asiatic state DOT
only because of the conformity friendly
relations existing between that country
and this. but also because it is felt that
ia pans success 10 her war with Chiaa
may have had the effect OF arousiog a
spiri. of combativeness @hich is not
warranted 10 the opinion Of the menu
bers OF the copmi;tee by bef relative
size and importance as compared With
the United States