The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-25
EHGLAND'S OLD ACT

SAN FRANCISCO, July A-Tbe
steamship China arrived from Yoko.
mama this morning via Honolulu brings
ing the following advices to the Asa
ISOLATED Press:
Counsellor Yaykima, who was sent
to Honolulu by the Japanese govern.
nhent' as special commissioner, in the
NanWa, returned to Toxic on the Nth.
The Japanese question remains in
statu quo," said Attorney Smith. I'VE
nave gwen our views, which happen
to be Numerically opposed to those OF
Japan and there We are. The last
phase was submitted to Minister
Shimayura about two weeks ago, and
he felt 1t was hit duty to submit the
matter to his government. In all our
intercourse with him, Minister Shima-
yura has shown himself to be anxious
to have the differences settled amicabIy
and with as little trouble as possible.
Both publicly and privately he has
been all that anybody could desire.
He IS carrying out the instructions Of
his government in asking US to acceda
to certain things which we cannot do.
He does not feel that he can give away
and that is our position. We have
certainly made no Roadway and it does
not look as though we can under the
present conditions.
You understand we claim the right
to pass and enforce laws which regu-
late the immigration to this country.
In one of the first communications
received from Minister Shimayura on
the subject he admitted that right,
but later he claimed for his govern
ment that the enforcement of such a
law was in direct violation of the
clause in the treaty which gives sub
jects of Japan the same rights as those
of the most favored nations.
What do 1 think will happen if ia
pan was to sever her treaty relations
with Hawaii? Why, she would be
thrown out of court so far as this
difficulty is concerned. 1 do not know
WHAT the general result would be.
The treaty has been mutually bene-
fetal Our interests have been bene-
fitted by the Japanese, and those peO-
pie have been benefited through earn
ing money for themselves and their
families"
When arbitration was suggested as
the only solution to the dilemma, Mr..
Smith ventured no opinion.
ISLANDS GOBBLED.
Admiral Gildersleeve has notified
Capt. Booke that he has no intention
of sending the Marion away The
vessel is now being thoroughly repaired
at this port. The steamer China ar
rived from the South sea on the 18TH
While the vessel was cruising on the
long voyage, Capt. Rosehill secured
sufficient evidence to warrant the be-
lief that England had taken formal
possession of number of small fer
tile islands in that portion of the globe
without stopping to inquire who the
owners might be. There are many la
COON islands that are very fertile, but
uninhabited. They are now being
brought under cultivation, for English
companies are planting cocOanUt
groves and other fruits for the export
trade.
The most marked evidence of the
English possession was found on the
Palmyra group situated in something
like latitude 5 north, longitude i135 west.
This is considered the more remark
able because the islands, which are of
the lagoon formation and some fourteen
in number, have been owned by the
Hawaiian government since 1862. and
are published as such in South Sea
island Biographies They were taken
possession of formally in the name of
the Hawaiian government in 1862 by a
master mariner, who was given to ex-
ploring. At that time a house was
erected on the largest island, vegetables
planted about the place and a white
man and several natives landed there as
a colony. The venture did not succeed
at the time, and all evidence of the old
dwelling has disa ppeared.
II had not visited Palmyra island for
perhaps a dozen years until 1 went
ashore there a few weeks ago" said
Capt. Rosehill. Almost the first thing
that attracted our attention on the
island was the remnant of an old flag
pole, at the foot of which was a pro-
clamation written on cloth, but for the
most part effaced by the weather. We
could only make out enough of the
wording to indicate that the sign was.
a proclamation declaring the islands
among the possessions of Great Britain.
Evidently a party had landed from a.
man-of-war there a short time ago,
and remained there for some time, for
the camp stakes were still in the ground
and heaps of ashes remained where
camp-fires had merrily blazed. Bits OF
clothing and trappings picked up about
the place bore the initials of the H.
NJ S. Penguin"