The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-28

Washington. June 27.-The Japanese pO-
sition on the annexation of Hawaii by
the United States has been made known
from a very high source The japanese
base their opposition to annexation al
most entirely upon the ground that it IS
an interference with the treaty rights OF
Japan, and complain especially that the
treaty was negotiated in the face of the
most friendly protestations from Japan,
and at a time when the Japanese author
tiles had been led 10 believe that no such
treaty would be undertaken. The follow
ing may be accepted as an absolutely ac-
curate outline OF the position OF the ia
panese legation al Washington:
The japanese insist. as upon all former
occasions. that the Japanese government
has not now and never had designs on
Hawaii. They consider this most I'M
portant point which they say has ap-
oa-ently had so much weight in the dis
cussion of the question.
They contend that the Japanese first
went 10 Hawaii in response to the de-
mand for labor on the island. under pro-
visions of a treaty concluded in 1886 at
the solicitation of the Hawaiian govern
ment- They call attention to the ract
that the Japanese government has always
been averse to having their people go
abroad as coolies" the Chinese do,
and that the government has strlven %
prevent such immigration As cOnSe-
uuence. the Hawaiian treaty was so
worded so as 20 prevent the suspicion OF
anything like coOlie labor. The interests
of all parties were they say, protected
and as a consequence the Hawaiian plan
tiers secured l high class of agricultural
leber upon fair terms and under clrcum-
stances that did not give the least occa-
s,o1 for dislike and OpproDlum, Wnlcn
generally attach to contract labor. This
treaty. they say, worked admirably tOr
years and until the planters became res
tive under the conditions imposed by the
treaty. thinking, the Japanese hold, tnaI
they could secure labor more cnedply
with the restrictions removed
At the same time the question OF an
nexatiOn came up and the adherenls OF
union with the United States thought II
would be necessary to make chanse IN
the methods of obtaining the labor aoso-
lutely necessary 70 the prosperity OF me
sugar industry of the islands. This was,
trey claim. the origin of the so-called
voluntary system of immigration Oh
Hewaii.
TIE DEVELOPMENT Of this situation led 10
the framing by the Japanese government
of its immigration law. This law Is very
strict in prohibiting the expectation OF
Japanese labor except where employment
5 assured and il IS claimed that unGer
its provisions il would be Impossible 10
food the Hawaiian Islands, as mas oeeh
asserted to be the japanese purpose,
without the connivance of the Japanese
authorities This they hold could not be
secured in view of the policy of Japan
against the expectation of coohe labor
and in view OF the repeated denlals Oh
Japan of any designs upon Hawaii
They assert that Hawaii took no steps
o restrict immigration from Japan until
asst February,, when SUDDEN anu I SUI -
his end This. they claim, IS evloehcs
that there was no noodlns OF
he islands. They regarded TINS from tne
sland government as capricious, ana con-
.luded that il was made for the purpose
# increasing the agitation in their IN
crest of annexation, and to furnish
,retext for speedy action IN that olrec-
ion To the same end they consider the
ry of danger from Hawaii on account
II Japanese aggression to have been
aised.
The boot the idea that this fear had
ny foundation in fact. and say that the
anger existed only in the minds OF the
ealous advocates of anneXatlon Ihey
ssert that JaJan has freely explained
very step taken in this controversy and
hey hold that the fact that such eN-
lanation has been made should De ac-
epted as proof positive that Japan has
% Interior designs upon the islands
In view of this explanation on their part
o the United States. they complain OF the
Wilderness of the announcement of the
hawaiian treaty Of annexation, ana say
hat the treaty was cOnSummateu Wnsn
hey mad reason. from official assur-
noes for believing that no haSty action
that direction was contemplated Ihey
OuSider that many subjects or Japan are
ntitied TO damages on account OF Ht-
-aii's summary refusal TO permit them to
md and that they are deprived OF their
emedy by the contamination OF TINS
realty. On this account they are inclined
} declare the action to be unjust and ar
itrary They also hold that Japan has
ghts under the treaties with Hawaii
Their than those detailed. including reci-
rocal immunities which they fear may
OF be renewed if Hawaii becomes a part
the United States. The present pur-
ose. they hold. appears to be to termi-
ate these rights without privilege of ap-
eaI and against this proceeding they
rotest They hold that while Japan has
0 purpose of asserting any authority In
avail the Japanese government has the
ght to remonstrate IN the interest of
er citizens and to demand that their le-
tinare rights be respected.