New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-18
JAPAN AND HAWAII.

The announcement that Japan has formally
withdrawn her protest against the annexation
Of Hawaii by the United States is by no means
surprising II has confidently been expected by
well-informed and dispassionate observers
Those who think evil OF all men but themselves.
or who think nothing can DE done by rival IA
lions without brawlinG. may have thought
otherwise Some Of them may still think that
Japan is spelling for n fight" with the United
States and may. through the miss OF super
heated fancy, see in the 5000 japanese set
tiers in the islands nm army Of 10000 veteran
japanese soldiers Struggled In as coolies for
the purpose Of resisting annexation 10 this coun
try. But not By such imaginngs are the affairs
OF nations disposed The fact IL that Japan
does not desire war with this country but IS
most amicably inclined toward II. recognizing
In II her traditional friend and the one Of all
the great Powers from whom she has no cause
TO fear aggression Between the two there Is
a certain commercial rivalry. in which Japan
thus far IS decidedly ahead. That rivalry will
probably continue But Il IS essentially n
friendly rivalry. The interests Of Japanese
commerce are best served by maintaining close
and cordial relations with the United States,
and the same Is true in converse No rational
disturbing such relations without the most seri-
Gus and imperative cause
II has all along been evident that no such
case would be given In the proposed annexation
Of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States
There Is little doubt that Japan would like 10
have those islands for her own. So would
eral other nations Ike 10 have them. Germany
has made It evident that she would Great
RrIto in hos In nd sbn
went so far as to seize them, ana was CON
strained 10 relnqush her hold upon them only
by the emphatic warnings OF the United States.
Since tnen she has made numerous attempts To
gain footing upon the islands, by purchase
or otherwise, and Is at this very moment con
templatlng such procedure. But since the
United States compelled Great Britain to with.
draw from the islands and warned all the rest
Of the world TO keep hands off. there has been
general acquiescence in the predominance Of
American influence there and indeed in the
prospect Of ultimate absorption OF the islands
into the American Union. Japan realizes that
She knows that before she was herself Opened
to intercourse with the rest OF the world and
started upon her career OF marvellous progress
and expansion-a service performed for her
by this country-IIawaii had already made
| n,
and the paramount interests and influence OF
this country in those islands had been formally
acknowledged by the world Against such ac.
compished facts neither Japan nor any other
nation Is prepared to set herself at this late
day.
The crux OF the whole matter as has from
the outset been maintained In these columns
and rs the japanese Government now officially
makes clear, is this: That Japan wants to In.
sure the safeguarding Of her interests in Ha.
wall, whatever disposition shall be made of
those Islands. Japan has great interests there
greater than those Of any other country ex.
cepting this one. Thousands Of her people are
settled there, and she wants to know how they
Will be treated. Millions Of her capital are
Invested there and she wants to know that II
will be safe Her commerce with the island,
and by way Of them TO other lands Is larg,
and increasing. and she wants to know how II
will be affected by the proposed change Al
this solicitude is natural and legitimate. ant
1t has nothing whatever to do with wars OF
threats Of wars. Japan knows perfectly wei
that her interests can be secured by friendly
negotiation with this county. 1t was not un
natural for her AT first to make formal protest
against annexation. merely as a basis for fur
ther discussion. But she never had any notion