The silver lance., 1897-08-06

Washington, July 3O.-The japanese
government has accepted the offer
made by Hawaii to arbitrate the dis
pute between the two countries. The
state department has been informed
Of the offer and the acceptance. The
subject of arbitration will include not
only the difficulty over the landing of
the Japanese immigrants but also will
include other disagreements between
the two countries. the most important
of which Is the Sake tax imposed upon
a Japanese liquor largely imported and
consumed by the Japanese in Hawaii
The acceptance of the offer of arbi-
tration, a brief synopsis of which has
been cabled to the Japanese minister
here and given to the state depart
ment, states that the japanese govern
ment accepts arbitration in principle
and Is prepared to enter upon the terms
for settlement of pending disputes
The formal letter of acceptance has
been sent to Hawaii and the conditions
of arbitration will be contained there
in Those conditions are not known
here. Pending the arrangement of de-
tails. all other proceedings looking 70
a settlement will be discontinued.
When the officials of the state depart
ment We're informed of the offer and
y
Of the japanese legation here was in
formed that until the annexation treaty
was concluded the United States would
not assume any authority in the matter
and that the present dispute must be
considered as between Japan and Ha-
wall
The secretary in reply said he was
glad to learn that such was the position
of the United States. as it would per
NIT Japan sending two or three war
ships to Hawaii pending final action
on the arbitration treaty.
This Interpretation of the situation
rather surprised the state department
officials, who answered that the United
States would consider in a different
light an agreement of arbitration and
the sending of a warship and intimated
that non-interference by the United
States in one case could not be con-
strued as passive acceptance of the lat
ter position.
The Japanese secretary was told.
however, that in the absence of Secre-
tary Sherman and Assistant Secretary
Day. nothing could or would be said
4 officially upon the subject and any con-
versation must be considered as wholly
unofficial.
The Sake tax, Of which the Japanese
complain. is an increase of the duty ON
f, this liquor from fifteen cents to 81 per
| gallon The tax was passed by the Ha-
waiian Legislature and vetoed by
President Dole on the ground that ii
was unconstitutional and in violation
of the treaty with Japan. who had
| rights under the most favored nation
class. The tax was passed over his We
to almost unanimously. only one vote
being east to sustain the president The
I f<r IN SoE . h.,
saloonkeepers and the manufacturers
! OF liquors. as the Japanese use this
liquid wholly to the exclusion of other
beverages.
1t is not expected that the state de-
partment will make more than q formal
acknowledgment Of the latest commu-
nication from Japan upon the subject
| Of the annexation of Hawaii, the un-
| derstanding being that all future nego-
tiations will be conducted by Minister
Buck and the Japanese foreign officer
| at Toxic.
I San Francisco. July 3O.-Ellis Mills.
the retiring consul general at Honolulu,
arrived from the islands on the steam
er Alameda. Mr.. Mills was succeeded
by William Hayward, and with his
wife he is now on his way back to his
home in Virginia. Speaking of politi-
cal affairs in the islands. Mr.. Mills
said: Annexation is now regarded
universally by the people Of Hawaii as
q certainty. The enthusiasm over the
/ annexation movement is more intense
now. if such thing be possible. than
it has ever been before. and almost ev-
erybody has an abiding faith in the
happy result that they all wish for and
| anticipate. II is confidently expected
that the whole matter will be settled
when Congress meets this fall"