The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-10-01
The Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands.
To the Editor Of Vanity Fair:

| Dedr lhere nave been
some important questions asked
lately in the House of Commons re-
lative to the possible annexation OF
the Hawaiian group OF islands to
the United States. 1t is to be hoped
that such an event may be prevent
ed by hook or by crook. For, to
say nothing of its being entirely
against the professed principles Of
the United States to occupy for
eign country, it would be so much
against the interests OF the whole
world were they to do 80, that Great
Britain should make an effort, be-
fore it is too late, to prevent the
nationality of the Sandwich Islands
from being wiped out.
The question asked of the Under
Secretary had reference to the
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, and sug-
gested that America had bound her.
sci not to interfere with the Sand
wich Islands. The United States
never did anything so patriotically
foolish. 1t was Great Britain that,
under the auspices of Lord Aber-
deem, committed this suicidal act Of
national generosity in conjunction
with France. The treaty runs as
follows:
Her Majesty the Queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, and His Majesty the
King of the French, taking into con.
sideration the existence in the Sand
witch Islands OF Government capa-
BILE of providing for the regularity
of its relations with foreign nations,
have thought it right to engage re-
ciprocally to consider the Sandwich
Islands as, an Independent State,
and never to take possession, neither
directly or under any other form, of
any part Of the territory OF which
they are composed.
The undersigned-Her Britannia
Majesty's principal Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs and the
Ambassador Extraordinary of His
Majesty the King of the French at
the Court of London-being fur
nished with the necessary powers,
hereby declare in consequence that
their said Majesties take reciprocal
ly that engagement.
In witness whereof, the under
signed have signed the present de-
claration, and have affixed thereto
the seals of their arms.
Done in duplicate at London, the
twenty-eighth day of November, in
the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred aud forty-three.
(Signed) ABERDEEN, L. S.
The French copy is signed by st.
Aulaire. The Aberdeen Treaty was
apparently made with the object of
maintaining the status quo. This
failed on the deposition of the
Queen and declaration of a Repub-
lie, and therefore possibly the
Treaty became null void; or, at any
rate, Great Britain is only response
BILE to France for what may be con-
sidered a mutual understanding.
Shortly before the negotiation of
the Aberdeen Treaty Lord George
Paulet with Fl. M. s. Carysfort had
taken over the protectorate OF the
Sandwich Islands, and hoisted the
Union Jack at Honolulu, very much
to the satisfaction of the natives
The Irregularities that were being
committed by the Government were
SO indefensible that this was con-
sidered the simplest method OF recti-
fcation, the only parties Directing
being the foreign loafers, who saw
that it might affect their personal
interests in the future; and they
formed the nucleus of opposition
which worked upon the Admiral on
the Pacific station, and induced him
to cancel the occupation without
previous reference to the Home
Government. Had he been a sensi-