Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-24

Treaty Rights.
Washington, June 2S.-The Hawai-
ian annexation treaty formed the prin-
cipal topic of consideration by the Sen
ate committee On foreign relations at
its brief session to-day. The treaty
and ACCOMPANYING papers were read
and referred to a subcommittee con-
sisting of Senators Davis, Foraker and
Morgan, with instructions to lnvest'-
gate the entire question and report to
the full committee. The papers read
included the protest made by Japan
against the annexation. The document
did not call out much comment, but al
that was said was of character TO IN
dicate that the members of the COM
mittee did not regard it as likely to
lead to serious complications, though
requiring the most respectful consld-
Grafton. The subcommittee will con-
slider all the complications likely to
grow out of annexation, including
those referring to the trade relations
of the islands. This will involve a
study of all of Hawaii's treaties with
other countries. The inquiry neces-
sarily will require considerable time,
and no effort will be made by the full
committee to take the subject up until
the subcommittee shall be able to re-
port on all the details. The realization
of this fact has led the members of the
committee to conclude that it is i'm
probable that the committee as whole
will be able TO pass Gpon the subject
during the present session. Compare
tivelv little was said bearing upon the
merits Of the treaty at to-day's meet
ing. but the few utterances that were
heard sustained the estimate hereto
fore made of the complexion Of the
committee. namely, that at least eight
of the eleven members would favor
ratification. There is a possibility that
the number may be increased to nine.
The protest from Japan in connec-
ton with the Hawaiian treaty which
was received by the Senate committee
on foreign relations to-day is consider
ed in a more serious light than was 1t
first made apparent, and the commit
tee took exceptional precautions to pre-
vent the publication of its proceed
Jugs. The protest was accepted as al
most an ultimatum on Japan's part 20
the effect that the treaty must not be
perfected 1t is not a protest against
the form of the document, as had been
supposed in some quarters, but against
the document itself, or rather against
the transaction as being opposed TO
Japan's interest. The specific reason
alleged for the protest is that the con-
summation of the agreement between
Hawaii and the United States would
disturb the existing trade relations of
the North Pacific and nullify treaty
rights.
The protest is in such definite terms
and is directed so squarely at the
transaction as to cause the committee
to feel that the entire matter should
be handled with the utmost circum-
spection as the only way in which
complications of a serious nature can
be avoided. While there is no dispc-
sition on the part of a majol ty of the
committee to weaken in is support of
the treaty, there is a general feeling
that the friendly relations which have
always existed between Japan and the
United States call for great delibera-
ton and especial care in proceeding in
the matter. Hence the appointment or
the Subcommittee to consider all the
details, the decision to keep the pro-
ceedings from the public and the prob
ability that the committee may not be
able TO report during the present ses-
sion of Congress. With reference TO
this latter point it may be stated as
extremely probable that the matter
will be held in allegiance by the sub
committee until Congress convene5 in
regular session in December, for the
double purpose of permitting the COM
mittee to make it's investigation as
thorough as possible and to permit the
executive branch to exert its best ef-
forts through the use of diplomacy TO
persuade Japan of the unwisdom of
her course. 1t is understood in this
connection that this delay is in ac-
cordance with the wishes of the ad-
ministratin as intimated to members Of
the Senate.
The opinion was expressed in the
committee that document of the char
acter of that filed by Japan would, If
presented by nation more nearly the
eoual of us. lead to very serious diff
culties. but there is a general desire
to extend unusual consideration to-
wards the Asiatic state, not only be-
cause of the uniformly friendly rela-
tions existing between that country and