Rock Island Argus., 1897-06-24
JAPAN'S PROTEST.
Island Empire Talks Like It Had
Something to Say
ABOUT TIE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS


Practically Tells Uncle Sam Thss Annexa-
taea "Doesn't Co." Beea1ss II Ignores
Trsaty Rights So Enphsxio That II
Amounts Almost to An C1timatum-Mor.
gans Scheme to Dodge That Two-Thiris
Majority Required In the Senate.
Washington, June "A. - The protest
from Japan in connection with the Ha-
waiian treaty. which was received by
the senate committee on foreign affairs
yesterday, isconsidered in a more serious
light than was at first made apparent,
and the committee took exceptional pre-
cautions to prevent the publication OF
Its proceedings. The protest was ac-
cepted as almos: an ultimatum on
Japan's part to the effect that the treaty
must not be perfected. 1t is not a pro-
test 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 interest. The specific
reason alleged for the protest Is that
the consummation Of the agreement be-
tween Hawaii and the United States
would disturb the existing trade rela-
lions OF the north Pacific and nullify
treaty rights.
Jap Knows Just What He Wants.
The protest is In such definite terms
and is directed so sQuarely at the
transaction as to cause the committee
to feel that the entire matter should
be handled with the utmost cifcum-
spection. as the only way in which COM
% carfD L.
avoided. While there is no disposition
on the part Of a majority of the COM
mittee 10 weaken in its support Of the
treaty, there Is a general feeling that
the friendly relations which have al
ways existed between Japan and the
United States call for great deIiberation
and especial care in proceeding in the
matter. Hence the appointment of a
subcommittee to consider all the de-
tails, the decision to keep the proceed
ings Of the committee from the public,
and the probability that the committee
may not be able to report during the
present session of congress.
Will Try the Effect of Persuasion.
With reference to this latter point it
may be stated as extremely probable
that the matter will be held in allegiance
by the subcommittee until congress
cOnvenes in regular session next De-
cember for the double purpose Of per-
mitting the committee to make its in
vestigation as thorough as possible. and
to permit the executive to exert its best
efforts through the use Of diplomacy to
persuade Japan Of the unwlsdom Of her
course. It is understood in this con-
nection that this delay is in accordance
with the wishes of the administration
as intimated to members Of the senate.
If She Was Only One Of Our sise.
The opinion was expressed in the COM
mittee that q document Of the character
Of that filed by Japan would, N pres
ented by a nation more nearly the equal
of the United States. lead to very ssri-
Gus difficulties, but there is q general
desire to extend unusual consideration
towards the Asiatic state, not enly be-
cause Of the uniformly friendly reia-
tions existing between that country
and this, but also because 1t is
felt that Japan's success In her
war with China may have had
the effect Of arousing a spirit Of COM
bativeness which is not warranted, in
the opinion of the members Of the COM
mittee. by her relative size and i'm
portance as compared with the United
States.
Morgan's Strate9ical Hawaiian Bill.
Morgan yesterday introduced a bill
for the annexation Of the Hawaiian ISL
ands. The bill provides that the islands
shall become a territory Of the United
States in accordance with the terms of
the recently negotiated treaty. The date
set for the extension of the laws of this
country over the islands is the 4th of
March. 1895, but 1t is specifically pro-
vided that they may be put in force at
an earlier day if congress so directs. In
reply to a question Morgan said that
his bill was intended to carry the an
nexation treaty into execution in case
1t should be ratified by the senate, or
to provide for its ratification by the
joint action Of the two houses in case
the senate should refuse to act. "The
treaty." said the senator, "can be ratified
in this form by majority vote in each
of the two houses. thus avoiding the
necessity for securing two-thirds of the
senate as would be required IL the mat
ter should be passed upon by that body
alone"