The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-08
JAPAN HAWAII CONTROVERSY.
FORMER GOVERNMENT WILL
ING TO ARBITRARY.
Agreement Delivered to Secretary
Sherman by the Secretary of
the Japanese Legation.

WASHINGTON, Sept. THE full
text Of the formal acceptance by the
Japanese Government of the proposal
to arbitrate it's differences with Hawaii
has been received in this city, and a
copy was to-day delivered to Secretary
Sherman by the Secretary of the Japa-
nese Legation, Mr.. Matsu. Tt is from
Count Okuma, Minister of Foreign .if-
fairs, to H. Shimamura, Japanese Min
lister to Hawaii After acknowledging
the receipt of Hawaii's offer of arbi-
tration, it says:
THE Imperial Government are firmly
convinced that their complaints in his
matter are well founded, and that their
demands are just and reasonable. New
ertheless, in a spirit of Cancellation, and
in the hope that their action may con-
tribute to the good relations of the two
countries, they have resolved to ac-
cept, subject to certain necessary lini-
tations and qualifications, the proposal
Of the Government of Hawaii.
Accordingly, on the 29th ult, I tele-
graphed to you to the effect that the
Japanese Government accepted in prin-
ciple the suggestion of the Government
of Hawaii for arbitration, and that the
ance would follow by mail I now con-
firm that telegram, and the object Of
this instruction is to explain the ma
ture Of the terms and conditions, on
adhesion to which is, in the estimation
of the Imperial Government, essential
to satisfactory issue of the contem-
plated arrangements.
the reasons assigned by the Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs Of Hawaii in
favor of arbitration make it also de-
sirable that the award when pro-
nounceG, shall be of the highest and
most commanding character. Conse-
quently, the Imperial Government pro-
poses that the two governments shall
when the proper time arrives, unite in
requesting that his majesty, the King
of the BeIgians, may be pleased to ac-
cept the position of sole arbitrator
THE Imperial Government is, more
over, persuaded of the desiraoility of
expressly defining the scope of
the reference, not only in order to
tighten the labors of the ar5,tra ter,
but with the view, as WELL that the
decision may address itself solely to the
actual points of divergence.
we, therefore, propose that the two
governments shall agree to the essen
tial facts of the case. and that the ar
bitratiOn shall be limited to specified
questions at law Gn case the award is
in favor of JAPAN as to the measure of
damages suffered by the subjects of
his imperial majesty.
1T is due to frankness that I
should, in this connection, state that
for reasons which are fully set forth in
another instruction, the Imperial Gov
eminent cannot consent that the ques-
ton Of the bona fide possession of $50
by each of the rejected free Iaborers, or
of the applicability of the treaty Of
1871 to the Japanese subjects, other
than those belonging to the merchant
class, shall be regarded as points of
issue upon which the decision of the
arbitrator is to be invited
IF The Government of the Republic
is prepared to meet the Imperial Gov
eminent upon the foregoing essential
points, it is not apprehended that any
difficulty will be experienced in arriv-
ing at an agreement in reference to
questions of minor Importance.
You are consequently directed to
communicate a copy of this instruction
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as
the reply Of the Imperial Government
to the suggestion contained in his note
of the 18th of June. You will at the
same time urgently impress upon him
the importance of immediate response.
l am, sir, etc, Count Okuma Shige-
nobu, Minister of Foreign Affairs