The Irish standard., 1897-06-26
JAPAN'S PROTEST.
Her Objection to Hawaiian Annex.
atlon Considered Serious.
IT MAY POSSIBLY LEAD TO WAR.
senate Com m Il ee Necognixes the bel.
. icacy of tho Subject and Will
Handle 1t with Care-Annexu-
tiOM Bill in tho Senate.

VlOh Dill Vh0 SenAtes
Washington, June 24.-The Hawaiian
annexation treaty formed the principal
topic Of consideration by the senate
committee on foreign relations at its
brief session Wednesday. The treaty
and accompanying papers were read
and referred to subcommittee consist
ing Of Senators Davis, Foraker and Nor.
gan, with instructions to investigate
the entire question and report to the
full committee. The papers read in.
cluded the protest made by Japan
against the annexation.
serious Aspect of Jnpan's Protest.
The protest from Japan in conneo.
ton with the Hawaiian treaty, which
was received by the senate committee
on foreign affairs Wednesday,, is con.
sidered IN more serious light than
was at first made apparent, and the
committee took exceptional precau-
tions to prevent the publication of its
proceedings. The protest was accept
ed as almost an ultimatum on Japan's
part to the effect that the treaty must
not be perfected.
1t is not u protest against the form Of
the document, as had been supposed
in some quarters, but against the docu-
ment 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 nnd nullify treaty
rights.
Must he Handled With Care.
The protest is In such definite terms
and is directed SO squarely at the trans
action as to cause the committee to
feel that the entire matter should be
handled with the utmost circumspec-
ton, as the only way in which COM
plicntions of q serious nature can be
avoided. While there is no disposition
on the part of a majority of the COM
mittee to weaken it's support of the
treaty, there is general feeling that
the friendly relations which have al
ways existed between Japan and the
United States call for great deliberation
and especial care in proceeding in the
matter Hence the appointment of the
subcommittee to consider all the de-
tails, the decision to keep the proceed.
ings of the committee from the public,
and the probability that the commit
tee 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 abey-
ance by the subcommittee until con-
gress convenes in regular session next
December, for the double purpose of
permitting the committee to make it's
Investigation as thorough as possible
and to permit the executive to exert
Its best efforts through the use OF
diplomacy to persuade Japan of tho
unwisdom of her course. 1t is under.
stood in this connection that this de-
lay is in accordance with the wishes
Of the administration, as intimated to
members Of the senate.
The opinion was expressed in the
committee that II document of the char
acter of that fled by Japan would. II
presented by a nation more nearly the
equal Of the United States, lead to very
serious difficulties. but there is gem
eral desire to extend unusual consid-
Grafton towards the Asiatic state, not
only because of the uniformly friendly
relations existing between that coun-
try and this, but also because 1t Is felt
that Japan's success IN her war with
China may have had the effect Of
arousinga spirit tofcombativenessw of which
ia not warranted, In the opinion of the
members of the committee, by her rela-
tive size and Importance as compared
with the United States.
Reply to the Protest.
The state department has practically
completed its reply to the Japunesc pro.
test against the Hawaiian annexation
treaty but has not yet delivered it. The
reply is understood to be dignified in
tone, strong legal defense Of our posi-
tion which withoutin any sense abating
our claims, still does not disdain to sup
port them by much citation of precedent
and international law.
bill for Annexation.
In the senate Wednesday Senator
Morgan (Ala.) introduced bill for the
annexation of the Hawaiian islands.
In reply to question, Senator Morgan
said that his bill was intended to carry
the annexation treaty into execution in
ease 1t should be ratified by the senate
or to provide for its ratification by the
Joint action Of the two houses in case
the senate should refuse to act. n syn
opsis of the bill is as follows:
1t provides that the islands shall become
q territory of the United States in accord
ance with the terms of the recently -nego-
tiated treaty. The date set for the extern
sion Of the laws of this country over the
islands is the 4th Of March, 1898. but 1t is
specifically provided that they may be put
In force at an earlier day II congress so
directs 1t Is also directed that the i've
commissioners provided for by the treaty
to make recommendations to congress In
matters pertaining to Hawaii shall be con-
hrmed by the senate. The bill appropriates
81. .00o,0 900 for the execution Of It's pro-
visions Out Of this sum the interest on
the Hawaiian debt is to be paid, but pro-
vision for the payment Of the principal Of
the debt ia deferred.
Fatal Explosion.
Rockville. Ind. June 24,-The boiler