New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-28
THEJAPANESE AND HAWAII.
ATTITUDE OF THE EMPIRE AS SCI
FORTH AT WASHINGTON.

NO DESIGNS AGAINST THE .sLANDs-THE 1NhNii
WITH HAwAII-THE JAPANESE EMlGkA-
r1oS LAw-JAPANEsE SUBJECTS
UNTITLED TO DAMAGES.
Washington. June 27.-The japanese position
q, ,be annexation OF Hawaii by the Ohiteo states
,os been made known from very high source
The Japanese base their opposition 70 ahneAa-
t,on almost entirely on the ground mat II Is an
,n,erference with the treaty rights OF Japan ana
cornnlain especially that the treaty was neso-
tia.ed IN the face Of the most friendly protes'a-
t,ons from Japan and al a time when the Japa-
nese authorities had been led to believe that no
such treaty would be undertaken. The Following
NAV be accepted as an absolutely accurate out
,oo ~ the position Of the japanese Legation In
Washington:
Tho Japonese insist as on all former occasions
tho. the Japanese Government has not now ana
never has had any designs against Hawaii lhs
they consider a most important point because OF
the talk about colonization. which. they say, has
onnaren;lv had so much weight In the discussion
of the question They contend that the japanese
first went 10 Hawaii in response to the demahu
for labor in the islands, under provision OF
treaty concluded In 1856 AT the solicitation OF
the Hawaiian Government They call a''eh'ioh
70 the fact that the japanese Government nave
always been averse to having their people 10
abroad as coolies as the Chinese do. ana 'ha'
the Government has always striven 10 prevent
such emigration.
AS consequence. the Hawaiian treaty was 80
worded as 10 prevent even the suspicion OF any
thing like cooe labor. The interests OF all par
too were they saw. protected and the Hawaiian
planters secured high class OF agricui'"i"' a.
labor on fair terms and under circumstances
ciO
like and opprobrum which generally attach 10
contract labor. This treaty, they say, worked
admirably for years and until the planters be-
came restive under the conditions imposed by H.
thinking. the japanese hold. that they could Sc
cure labor more cheaply with the restrictions re-
moved.
Al the same time, the question Of annexation
came up and the adherents of union win 'he
United States thought it would be necessary 10
make changes in the method Of obtaining the
labor absolutely necessary TO the prosperity OF
the sugar industry of the islands This was,
they allege, the origin ct the so-called 'Voiuh-
,ary" system of immigration 20 Hawaii
The development Of This situation led to the
framing by the japanese Government or It's
emigration law. This law is very strict in pro-
hibjting the expectation of japanese except
where enoployrnant is assured, and il is declared
that under its provisions il would be impossible
70 1ood the Hawaiian Islands. as has been as
serted 10 be the japanese purpose. without the
cOnnivance Of The japanese authorities ms
they hold could not be secured in view OF the
policy of japan against the importation of the
cooic labor and in view Of the repeated denals
of Japan Of any designs upon Hawaii
They assert that Hawaii took no steps to re-
strict immigration from Japan until last Febru-
ary. when a sudden and suspicious demand was
To,
!ege is evidence sufficient that there was no
flooding Of the islands. They regarded this de-
mand from the Hawaiian Government as capri
cious and concluded that 1t was made to in
crease the agitation in the interest of annexation
and 20 furnish preteXt for speedy action IN
that direction.
To the same end they consider the cry OF dan
ger from Hawaii on account Of japanese ag-
gression 10 have been raised. They scon at the
idea that this fear had any foundation In fact'
and say that the danger existed only IN the
minds Of the jealous advocates Of annexation
They assert that Japan has freely explained
every step taken In this controversy with Ha-
wan 10 the United states. and they hold that
the fact that such explanation has been made
should be accepted proof positive that Japan
has no ulteror designs upon the islands.
In view Of these explanations on their part TO
the United States. they complain Of the sudden
ness of the announcement of the Hawaiian
treaty Of annexation. and say that the treaty
was consummated when they had reason, from
official assurances for believing that no hasty
action in that direction was contemplated
They consider that many subjects Of Japan
are entitled TO damages on account OF HaWaiis
summary refusal to permit them TO land, and
that they are deprived Of their remedy by the
consumnation Of this treaty. On this account
they are inclined TO regard the action as unjust
and arbitrary They also hold that Japan has
rights under treaties with Hawai-! other than
those detailed. including reciproca. immunties
which they fear may not he renewed II Hawaii
becomes part Of the United States
The presen. purpose. they contend. appears 10
be to terminate these rights without privilege
OF appeal and against this proceeding they pro-
test They say that while Japan has no purpose
Of asserting any authority i'll Ha" all the Japan
ese Government has the right to demonstrate in
the interest of her citiZers and To demand that
their legitimate rights be respected