Evening star., 1897-06-09
FACING A CRISIS
The Hawaiian Government Virtually
Threatened by Japan.
JAPANESE COLONIZATION OR HOSTILITY
Must Appeal to England if America
Refuses Association.
HER DESTINY TO BE DECIDED
JAPANESE COLONIZATION OR HOSTILITY
HER DESTINY TO BE DECIDED
,Irespondence Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May q, 1897.
Since my last letter fuller accounts have
transpired, containing important facts as
to the nature of the demands made upon
this republic by the japanese government.
We have also the substance of the reply
made by this government to those de-
mands. This was given out on the 24th
and has probably been received by you
with the mail of that date. 1 am able to
add to that intelligence some additional
points respecting the claims made by ia
pan.
1t is learned that the paper drawn up at
Toxic and presented to this government
by the japanese minister was far less
friendly than the Honolulu public had been
led to suppose 1t was imperious to de-
gree bordering upon insolence. So it was
characterized by person of high position
1t was altogether not such a paper as
would have been addressed to any power
of reputation.
Japan's Complaint.
The very serious fact, not yet published
here, is privately learned, that the Japan
ese government in this paper directly in
sists that japanese subjects resident here
privileges of denization and franchise pos
sessed by people of European races. This
has not been regarded by the Hawaiian
government as required by any treaty
stipulation. What are the precise merits
of the contention l am unable to say. The
unquestionable fact, however, is that the
admission of such a right would speedily
become fatal to American influence in Ha-
waii. and would bring under the polit-
fcal control of the Japanese. 1t is claim
which must be resisted TO the last extrem-
ity.
As to other items of the Japanese COM
plant. the communication from that gov
ernment intimates that if the Hawaiian
government has properly interpreted the
immigration laws, then those laws are In
derogatton of the treaty of 1871. 1t also
charges that the administration Of the laws
by the Hawaiian government was arbi-
trary and capricious and in violation of
prior precedents. Accordingly, Japan asks
the Hawaiian government to recognize the
principle of indemnification in connection
with the alleged wrong done to Japanese
subjects by the administration of the laws
In question. In addition, the Japanese gov
ernment demands an assurance that like
action would not again be taken with Jap
anese immigrants coming into Hawaii.
We must pay for the wrong we have done
to the subjects of Japan; we must guaran-
tee that We will never do so again. and.
finally, we must completely open to the
Japanese the road to Hawaiian citizenship
and franchise.
Hawaifs Reply.
In the reply to the japanese complaints
and demands. the minister of foreign af-
fairs makes no more than a general de-
muir to the last item named above. To the
others he answers In effect: That the i'm
migration laws of Hawaii are a reasonable
exercise of the police powers Of the state
and that they are not in contravention of
Cav n ha
subjects of all powers alike. That the
laws were administered in a justifiable
manner, that there was no reversal of any
prior precedents, and that the decision of
the supreme court denying the right of
habeas corpus to the immigrants as not
having yet gained residence was compe-
tent and proper determination of their
residential rights. This government there
fore contends that the principle of indem-
MITIGATION does not apply to the case.
They also declare that If similar infrac-
tions of the immigration law should occur,
like action to that complained of would
necessarily follow. They will pay no dam
ages for what they have done, and they
will do the same thing over again on like
occasion.
Jnpanese Minister'S Comments.
Minister H. Shimamura was duly inter-
viewed that evening. and expressed his
views with much freedom and plainness
He first stated his surprise that he should
not have received the reply of Minister
Cooper before he read the substance of it
in the evening papers. There seems to have
been some mistake in this matter, since the
letter of Mr.. Cooper was delivered at the
Japenese legation at $50 pm, an hour
before any paper was issued. There was
some haste in giving the matter to the
public in time for the steamer mail at q
O'clock
The minister insisted that the claims of
MS government were wholly reasonable
ard that the Hawaiian government had Of
fered no reasonable excuse for the action
taken. japan is acting according to the
law of nations. She is not dealing with
the board OF health, the custom house, or
tEe quarantine officers; the case is one Of
nation with nation. The United States has
been advised of the affair, and If the gov
ernment at Washington believes thai the
posltion taken by Japan is right, accord
ing to international law. there will be no
int Inference.
AS to arbitration. Mr.. Shimamura said
that In small affairs arbitration may be
allowed, but never where the honor of
a nation is at stake. There is no court
where cases in international law are tried
The only tribunal Is the strong arm and
the strong vessels. Honor is too sacred a
courts of arbitration.
7 Haw aii," he continued, Sought Jana
nese immigration in support of her chief
industry, and a treaty was made to fur
Japanese are competitors, and laws are
made TO restrict immigration Japan is
quite satisfied. and in order to avoid anv
misunderstanding, investigates the status
OF every emigrant leaving her shores. Every
emigrt.nt who left Yokohama for Homo
lulu did SO according to the laws of this
republic-Japan was satisfied of this be-
fcre they left Each free laborer had the
ame unit of money required and was eligible
TO land, but the authorities here said nop'
1t is news that Japan thus investigates
the status of the enigrants How. then.
happened 1t that laborers were brought
here under pretended contracts with plan
tattons which had no existence? Ona of
them was at the leper settlement at Kaiau-
papa! As to the free immigrants possess
irg the required sum of money, the most
careful examination fully satisfied the au-
thorities that they were not in bona fide
possesston-the money was lent them tenn
porarily by the emigration agents to de-
ceive this government.
Threats of Force.
The minister spoke OF the United States
as standing as a sort Of godmother to this
republic, but as certain not to justify Ha-
wall II she IL wrong. Japan has the great
g.