Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-17
TREATY SIGNED.
First Step in Annexation Of
the Hawaiian Islands.
Documents Signed by Representatives
Of United States and Hawaii.


'"o""Si" i, June lc-ln the great
diplomatic room OF the state depart
ment. where four years and fonr
months ago, in the closing hours OF tn.
Harrison administration. the frs,
Hawaiian annexation treaty was
signed, only to be Withdrawn from M.
Senate and thrown into pigeon Nj.
the representatives Of the goyernu,es,,
Of the United States ana HaW,i,
gathered. tbs morning. ana signed q
treaty by the terms Of which. IL rati-
fed. the little island republic win no.
come part of the territory OF tho
| United States. OF the persons wbo
| STOOD in the room. today. three were
present when the original treaty WAC
signed, namely, Special Commissioner
| Lorin Thurston and Assistant secr.-
taries Adee and Cridler. The Ars,
| named perhaps took a more sincer..
personal pleasure in the ceremony N,
| this morning than any OF the otnars
because of the stirring events OF The
last four years in which ne was 40
crectly concerned.
1t is very unusual thing for a treatv
OF such Importance to be signed early
in the morning. but in this case il was
desired that the convention be maaa
ready early, In order that it might ba
submitted to the Senate on the dav n,
Is signature. The document itself haa
been prepared carefully over night. in
fact, 1t was practically completed at
the close Of Office hours. yesterday but
Il was necessary to make a close com
parison, and the President wished an
CHER opportunity to go over the doc
ument. probably with view to draw
ing UP message, with which it will
be accompanied to the Senate
Therefore. before O'Clock, the persons
who were concerned In the preparation of
the treaty We're all at the state depart
ment. For the United States there were
Secretary Sherman. Assistant Secretaries
Day Adee and cridler Private Secretary
Babcock and Assistant Private Secretary
Gaytree.
on the Hawaiian side were Minister
Hatch. Lorin Thurston and W. A. Kin
ney. all for this particular occasion ae-
credited as special commissioners duly
empowered to negotiate treaty of an
nexation. After the formal greetings
the credentials OF the plenipotentiaries
were scanned and recorded.
Secretary Sherman alone represented
the United States In the signature Of the
convention. and IL was part of the cere-
mony 10 record his authorization by the
President just as much ii was the ere
dentials of the Hawaiians from President
Dole. Then came the reading and COM
parison of the treaty. OF this there were
two drafts, one to be held by each later
on 10 be exchanged in the usual form
Altogether IL was go O'Clock when an
was ready for the signatures The Ha-
wailans had brought with them a gold
pen in plain holder. and at their request
this was used for all of the signatures
Secretary Sherman signed first the copy
"a tenn ls1 IN hall her urtfl (fpiv
Hatch signed first the HawIian copy Of
the treaty. The treaties We're sealed by
Assistant Secretary Cridler. with pri-
waite seal carried on his watch chain the
copies were handed to their respective
and the treaty was made as
far as the executive branch of the gov
eminent could effect IL.
There was a general exchange of con-
ceremony. and after a photograph had
been taken of the commissioners. the
ceremony was ended.
The treaty provides that the govern
ment of the Hawaiian islands ceds TO the
United States absolutely and foever all
rigEcs of sovereignty in and over the
Hawaiian islands and its dependencies
and these island shall become an integral
The government of Hawaii also ceies to
the United States public lands public
buildings and public property of all des-
criptions.
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 IS
lands for educational and other public
pursuits
The Hawaiian island shall be admitted
into the Union as a territory OF the United
States, local laws TO be passed by local
legislature but subject to the approval
or the President.
Until Congress shall apply the laws
" the United States to the islands. the
present laws of Hawaii are to govern.
rhe present treaties and laws governing
Hawaii's commercial relations with for
sign nations shall remain in force until
Congress shall take action.
Further immigration of Chinese LABOR,
ars is prohibited. pending Congressman
action and the entry of Chinese from
Hawaii into the United States likewise Is
prohibited.
The United States assumes the puplic
iebt of Hawaii but with a stipulation
that this liability shall not exceed "a
0Q0oO.
The treaty before it becomes effective
shall be ratified by the proper authori-
les of the United States and of Hawaii.
No mention is made of any gratuity 90
or Kaiulani.
Before the final signature Of the docu-
nent, the secretary Of state was pre-
tented a formal protest by the japanese
through it legation here
igainst the contamination of the agree
nent. The protest is understood 10 he
BASED on apprehension that the specia,
reaties now existing between Japan ana
Hawaii. under which the Japanese en-
oy advantages will be affected injurious
Y by complete annexation.
81