The record-union., 1897-07-25
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION,
JAPAN WILL OPPOSE 1T TO THE
UTMOST.
mat Government Thinks it Must
be Consulted in Questions
Relating to the Pacific.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 24-The
steamship China arrived to-day from
I1ohgkong and Yokohama, bringing
japanese advices to July 18th. The Jap
anese papers contain more fully an in
terVleW with Count Okuma, the jap
! anese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
brief synopsis of which was telegraphed
from Vancouver a few days ago. In the
interview. which was published in the
1omlun,' Count Okuma is quoted as
saying relative to the proposed annex
| alton of Hawaii by the United States.
Japan must oppose it to the utmost.
Inc annexation must not take place
England has repeatedly attempted to
make Egypt dependent. but France
being positively opposed to that ar
rangement, England is obliged TO abide
by the status quo. Just in the same
way Japan must oppose the annexa-
ton to the utmost, and must stand by
TINS decision resOlutely. In diplomatic
circles, If one country finds it's own
power insufficient for attaining a GER
tain end, 1t is frequently undertaken by
the joint efforts of two or three Pow
ers, for if by the combined endeavors
of similarly interested Powers a policy
dictated by justice is strenuously main
tanned, nothing could prevent its at
tainment. Japan has communicated to
England, Germany and France the rea-
sons for her protest against annexation.
They may send answers before long.
After all, no excitement should be
raised against this affair."
Mr. OiShi Vice. Minister of A o,~; Quit
ure and Commerce, who who is regard
ed as one of the leutenants of Count
| Okuma, according to the Japan Ca
zette,' is said to have spoken on the
annexation question to the following eff
feet:
I'VE have now made a vigorous pro-
| test against the United States with
view to maintain the peace of the Pa
clfic. This is a great advance in Jap
ans diplomacy Just see how many
countries there are in the world which
dare to prefer such a protest against
America Even the sO-called six Pow
ers of Europe concede a step to the
United States. Japan's protest has as
tonished the European Powers for her
plucky resolve, and they seem inclined
to follow Japan's example In future
the Powers will ascertain the attitude
of Japan in any important question that
may arise in the Pacific and the far
East before they map out their policy.
Should the treaty pass the Senate I'M
fortunately we must maintain our pro-
test under any circumstances and for
any length of time. The Japanese are
apt to be very headstrong and impa-
tient in dealing with diplomatic mat
teTs, and often make undue concessions
for the sake of early settlements This
is a trait to be guarded against with
caution"
According to the Japanese papers,
the Government proposes to order Mr..
Kamipa, Consul at San Francisco. to
proceed to Hawaii in the capacity of
adviser to Minister Shimamura 1t is
stated that the cruiser Takachiho, 3. 100
tons, is making preparations to leave
for Hawaii, where she viii relieve the
No niwa. The Japanese battleships Full
and Yoshima are expected to leave
England shortly for Japan, via the Suez
Canal. The former will take H. r. H.
Prince Arisugawa on board, and will
call at one of the Spanish ports 1t is
stated by one of the papers of Toxic
treaty with Spain to combine against
the United States as regards Hawaii
and Cuba The United States steamer
Yorktown is now at Kobe.
The ''Yomiuri" says that on the 2Sth
of June long and important telegraph
message arrived at the Foreign Office
from America 1t has not yet been
made public.
By the swapping of a cable four flour
boats near Canton were overturned late
in June and 100 persons We're drowned
The sealing schooner Agnes Mcdonald
was run ashore on the japanese coast,
the Captain and crew being saved.
Dr. Porter, his wife and family and
the Rev. Arthur Smith, missionaries
travelling in Shantung, China, were at
tackled in June by a mob. They We're
rescued by soldiers from the Yamen.
and had a narrow escape.
The British bark Ardmore of Glas-
gov was reported wrecked in the Gas
par Straits on the 18th of May. She was
bound for Rio de Janeiro with a cargo
of rice No lives were lost.
An extraordinary affair is reported
at Woosung On June 2Sth II. M. s.
Immortalite anchored off Woosung on
Sunday afternoon. On Monday morning
one of the guns in the forts was fired,
and the shot fell into the water about
400 yards from the ship. This was fol-
lowed by another, the shot falling still
nearer Thinking he was being fired
upon Captain Chichester cleared his
ship for action, and prepared to give
battle to the fort. No more shots were
fired, however, and it was explained
that the guns We're fired for the edit
cation of a Chinese official.