Evening journal., 1897-06-28
JAPAN'S CONTENTION |
Why She Objects to Our Annexa-
tion Of Hawaii
INTERFERENCE WITH TREATY RIGHTS
Ehat, According TO the Japanese Lega-
tion at Washington, Is the BASIS of
Protest-Japs Claim Never TO
Have Wanted tho Islands.


position on the annexation of Hawaii |
by the United States has been made
known from a very high source. The |
japanese base their opposition 10 an |
neXation almost entirely upon the |
ground that IL is an Interference with |
the treaty rights of Japan and complain |
especially that the treaty was negou |
ated in the face Of the most friendly |
protestations from Japan and at time |
when the Japanese authorities had been |
led to believe that no such treaty would |
be undertaken. The following may be
accepted as an absolutely accurate out |
line OF the position Of the japanese le-
cation at Washington;
The Japanese insist. as on ali former |
occasions, that the Japanese govern |
ment has not now and never has had |
sny designs against Hawaii. This they
| consider a most important point be-
cause Of the talk about colonization
| which, they say. has apparently had
| so much weight in the discussion Of the
| question. They contend that the Jap
anese first went 10 Hawaii in response
! to the demand for labor In the islands
under provision Of a treaty concluded
! in 1886 at the solicitation of the Ha-
waiian government. They call atten
tion to the fact that the japanese gov
ernment has always been averse to
having it's people go abroad as COO
lies. as the Chinese do, and that the gov
eminent has always striven TO prevent
such immigration. AS a consequence
the Hawaiian treaty was so worded as
to prevent even the suspicion Of any
thing like coolie labor.
Say All Interests Were Protected.
The interests Of all parties We're they
! rsa.a
the Hawaiian planters secured a high
class Of agricultural labor upon fair
terms and und@r circumstances that
did not give the least occasion for the
dislike and opprobum which generally
attach to contract labor. This treaty.
they say. worked admirably for years
and until the planters became restive
under the conditions imposed by the
treaty, thinking, the japanese hold. that
they could secure labor more cheaply
with the restrictions removed.
At The game time the question of an
nexation came up, and the adherents Of
union with the United States thought 1t
would be necessary to make changes
in the method of obtaining the labor
absolutely necessary to the prosperity
of the sugar industry Of the islands.
This was, they claim, the origin of the
so called voluntary" system Of immi-
grafton 10 Hawaii.
E The development Of this situation led
to the framing by the Japanese gov
ernment of its immigration law This
law is very strict in prohibiting the ex-
portation Of Japanese, except where
employment is assured, and it is claim
ed that under its provisions II would
be impossible to food the Hawaiian is
lands as has been asserted sto, he the
japanese purpose. without the conniv-
' ance of the Japanese authorities. This,
they hold could not be secured. in view
of the policy of Japan against the eX-
. portation of coolie labor and in view OF
the repeated denials Of Japan of any
designs upon Hawaii.
A Suspicious Move.
They assert that Hawaii took no steps
to restrict immigration from Japan un-
til last February, when a sudden and
suspicious demand was made upon ia
u pan to this end. This. they claim, is
evidence sufficient that there was no
: flooding of the islands. They regarded
! this demand from the island govern
\ nent as capricious and concluded that
! 1t was made for the purpose of increas-
y ing the agitation in the interest Of an
. naxation and to furnish a pretext for
speedy action in that direction To the
. same end they consider the cry of dan
= ger from Hawaii on account Of Jap
anese aggression to have been raised.
They hoot 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
N assert that Japan has freely explained
% every step taken in this controversy
~ with Hawaii to the United States, and
ft /, g.. 30 frY
= has been made should be accepted as
proof positive that Japan has no uteriol
designs upon the islands. II view OF
:, these explanations osb their part to Che
- United States they complain Of the sud
denncss Of tho announcement Of the Ha-
:, waiian treaty Of annexation and say
that the treaty was consummated wher
they had reason. from official assur
ances. for believing that no hasty actor
-s in that direction was contemplated
u They consider that many subjects o.
: Japan are entitled to damages on ac
~ count of Hawaii's summary refusal e
10 permit them TO land and that they are
. deprived Of their remedy by the con
N summation Of this treaty. on this ac
count they are inclined TO regard thu
action as unjust and arbitrary. Thel
also hold that Japan has rights unde
treaties with Hawaii other than thos
, detailed. including reciprocal immuni
y ties, which they fear may not be renew
= ed II Hawaii becomes part of the Unite'
states.
y The present purpose. they hold. ap
- pears 10 be TO terminate these right
.e without privilege Of appeal and agalns
this proceeding they protest. They hol
that while Japan has no purpose Of as
serting any authority in Hawaii tn
=. Japanese government has the right {
:, demonstrate in the interest Of her citi
zens and TO demand that their legiti
80 | mate rights be respected.
IL. 49,. r....r...r. rrhnnL.