The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-21
Letters of Foreign Office and
japanese Government Laid
Before the Public.
Interesting Diplomatic Correspond
ence Upon japanese Matter-The
Position of Both Contestants De-
fined Correspondence Reopened.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cooper
met the representatives of the press
by appointment this morning and
gave out to the public complete
synopsis of the correspondence be-
tween Count Okuma and Minister
Resident Shimamura and himself over
the japanese controversy as far as it
has gone.
In brief it may be stated that the
japanese Government in the outset of
the trouble insisted upon the payment
of damages by the Hawaiian Govern
ment. In its latest correspondence
nothing is said about the damages and
it would appear the Milado and his
advisors have waived this point.
The very latest phase in the affair
is the offer by the Hawaiian Govern
ment to submit the matter for arbi
tration as exclusively announced in
the Star fully a fortnight ago. This
reply made by Minister Cooper some
little time ago has been forwarded TO
the Toxic Government by Minister
Shimamura.
Councillor Akiyama has returned
home and he may confer with his Gov
ernment before an answer is made.
A reply TO Hawaii's offer is now being
patiently awaited.
In reviewing the correspondence
this morning, Minister Cooper stated
that his first letter to the Japanese
Minister Resident was full eXplana-
tion of the action taken by the Ha-
waiiap Government officials in the cN-
animation and returning of the jap
anese immigrants brought to these
shores by the Shinshiu Maru.
w. N;nir+ar n--tr-.' ,.r,'- s,'"+ 49, g
of the Hawaiian Government in the
same note.
Minister Shimamura replied under
date of April 9th. After coinciding
the congratulations he expressed the
sentiment of his Government in deal
ing with Hawaii in the same high or
der of conduct and courtesy as it
deals with more powerful nations. He
had submitted the matter to his Gov
ernment for determination.
Minister Shimamura's own opinion
of the matter was that the Hawaiian
Government had adhered too closely
| to a technicality and had not COM
piled with the spirit of the imntigra-
tion law in restricting the immigrants
of the first class. He asks: "Woul1
it not have been best not to - pose
hardship on the simple and ignorant
people, who after having been to the
expense of selling their homes and
effects in Japan are rejected here sim
ply because they failed TO comply
with the regulations of the Board of
immigration?
In the case of the second class, he
considered that Minister Cooper was
misinformed as to the nature of the
memorandum. which was a guaran-
tee to the immigrants by the immigra.
ton that they should get work. The
memorandum was result of the gen
eral laws of the Japanese Government
pertaining to all classes of japanese
subjects.
Minister Shimamura also insisted
that the immigrants were free labor
ers and not contract, and that thev
exhibited the necessary $50. He said
that there was absolutely no distinc-
tion between the japanese who were
in Hawaii before and those who were
newcomers. The Minister also con
tended the right Of private parties
engaged in the immigration business
cannot be limited or modified except
by alteration of the treaty.
On April 10 Count Okuma, Japan
ese Minister for Foreign Affairs. wrote