The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-25
JAPAN'S
Against Annexation of Hawaii Almost an
Ultimatum-Its Terms Causes the Senate
Foreign Committee to Exercise Extreme
Caution in the Matter

Caution in the Matter
Washington, June 23.-The Hawaiian
annexation treaty formed the principal
topic of consideration by the senate
committee on foreign relations at its
brief session today. The treaty and
accompanying papers were read and
referred TO a subcommittee, consist
ing Of Senators Davis. Foraker and
Morgan, with Instructions to investi-
the full committee. The papers read
included the protest made by japan
against the annexation.
The subcommittee will consider all
the complications likely to grow out
of annexation, including those referring
to the trade relations of the islands.
This Will involve a study of all of Ha-
wallis treaties with other countries.
The inquiry necessarily will require
considerable time and no effort will be
made by the full committee to take
the subject up until the subcommittee
shall be able to report on all the details.
The realiZatiOnS Of this fact has led the
members of the committee to conclude
that it is improbable that the commit
tee as a whole will be able TO pass upon
the subject during the present session.
Comparatively little was said bearing
upon the merits of the treaty at to-
days meeting but the few utterances
that were heard sustained the esti-
mate heretofore made of the complex
ion Of the committee; namely. that at
least eight of the eleven members
would favor ratification. There is a
possibility that the number may be in
creased to nine.
The protest from the Japanese is con-
sidered in a more serious light than
was at first made apparent, and the
committee took exceptional precautions
to prevent the publication of its pro-
ceedingS. The protest was accepted as
almost an ultimatum on Japan's part
to the effect that the treaty must not
be perfected. 1t is not a protest against
the form Of the document, as had been
supposed in some quarters, but against
the document itself, or rather against
the transaction, as being opposed to
Japan's interests. The specific reason
alleged for the protest is that the con
summation Of the agreement between
Hawaii and the United States would
disturb the existing trade relations of
the north Pacific and nullify treaty
rights.
The protest is in such definite terms
ana Is directed SO SQ1afely at the
transaction as to cause the committee
to feel that the entire matter should be
handled with the utmost circumspec-
ton, as the only way in which compli.
cations of a serious nature can be
avoided. While there is no disposition
on the part of a majority of the COM
mittee to weaken. in its support of the
treaty, there is a general feeling that
the friendly relations which have a.
ways existed between Japan and the
United States call for great delibera-
ton n especial care in proceeding in
the matter.
The opinion was expressed in the
committee that a document of the
charter of that filed by Japan would, if
presented by a nation more nearly the
! equal of the United States, lead to very
serious difficulties, but there is a gen
eral desire to extend unusual consider
! alton toward the Asiatic state, not
only because of the uniformly friendly
/ relations existing between that cOun,
try and this, but also because it is fel.
that Japan's success in her war with
China may have had the effect OF
arOusing a spirit of cOmbativenes
which is not warranted in the opini@,
of the members of the committee by
her relative size and Importance a:
compared with the United States.