The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-24

Washington. June 2S.-The Hawaiian
annexation treaty formed the principal
topic of consideration by the senate
committee on foreign relations at its
brief session today. The treaty and ac-
companying papers We're read and re-
ferred TO a Subcommittee. consisting
of Senators Foraker. Davis and Nor
gan, with instructions to investigate
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 all that was said was
of a character to indicate that the
members of the committee did not re-
gard il likely to lead to serious COM
plicatiOns, though requiring the most
respectful consideration. The sub
committee will consider all the compli
cations likely to grow out of annex
alton, including those referring TO the
trade relations of the island. This will
involve the study of all of HawaifS
treaties with other countries The in
quiry 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 il is i'm
probable that the committee as
whole will be able to pass upon the
subject during the present session The
complexion of the committee is be-
lieved TO be eight for ratification and
three against it. There is possibility
that the number of those in favor of 1t
may be increased to nine.
The protest from Japan in connection
with the Hawaiian treaty which was
received by the senate committee on
foreign affairs today is considered in
more serious light than was at first
made apparent. The committee took
exceptional precautions 10 prevent the
publication of its proceedings. The
protest was accepted as almost an
ultimatum on Japaa's part TO the
effect that the treaty must not be per-
fected. 1t is not a protest against the
form of document. as had been sup
posed in some quarters. but against the
document itself. or rather against the
transaction as being opposed 10 ia
pans interest The specific reason al
legged for the protest is that the con-
summation Of the agreement between
Hawaii and the United States would
disturb the existing trade relations
treaty rights.
The protest is in such definite terms
and is directed so sGuarely at the
transaction as to cause the committee
to feel that the entire matter should be
handled with the utmost circumsDec-
ton as the only way in which compll-
cations of a serious nature can be
avoided. While there is no disposition
on the part of the majority of the COM
mittee to weaken in it's support of the
treaty there is a general feeling that
the friendly relations which have al
ways existed between Japan and the
United States call for great delibera-
ton and especial care in proceeding
in the matter. Hence the appointment
of the subcommittee to consider all
the details the decision to keep the
proceedings of the committee from the
public and the probability that the
committee may not be able to report
during the present session 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 subcommittee until congress
conveneS in regular session next De-
cember for the double purpose of per-
hitting the committee to make its in I
vestigation as thcToug has possible and J
to permit the executive to exert its best /
efforts through the use of diplomacy |
to persuade Japan of the unwisdom of /
her course. II is understood in this I
connection that this delay is in &C
cordance with the wish of the admins
traticn, as intimated to the members /
of the senate
The opinion was expressed in COM |
mittee that a document of the charac-
ter of that filed by Japan would, II pre- |
scented by a nation more nearly the I
equal of the United States, lead 10 very /
serious difficulties, but there is gen I
eral desire to extend unusual consider /
alton tow ards the Asiatic state, not /
only because of the uniformly friendly /
relations existing between that country ,
and this. but also because it is felt /
that Japan's success in her war with /
China may have had the effect or /
arousing a spirit Of combauveness
which is not warranted in the opinion |
of the members of the committee by (
her relative size and importance as |
compared with the United States