The morning news., 1897-06-17
HAND HELD OUT TO HAWAII.
TREATY OF ANNEXATION SENT TO
THE SENATE.

dent Mckinley Then Sends 1t TO
the Senate For NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Enters a Protest Against the Pro-
posed Annexation.
Washington, June 16--The treaty for the
annexation Of the Hawaiian Islands
reached the Senate chamber at 5 o'clock
to-day. The Senate at once went into
executive session, and as soon as the
doors were closed the message of Presi-
dent Mckinley, accompanying the treaty
and the treaty itself were read to the
Senate. They were attentively listened to-
There is a group of senators who will
bitterly oppose the ratification of the
treaty. Among them are Senators Gray,
Mills, Pasco, White, Caffery, Pettigrew
and McEnery.
AS soon as the reading of the document
was completed, Senator Davis, chairman
of the committee on foreign relations,
moved that the message and the treaty be
made public.
Senator Gray objected to a vote on the
motion, and under the rules a single OBJ
lection carried the motion over until to-
morrow.
Senator Davis gave notice that at the
next executive session he would press the
motion for publication, as all the essen
tial facts and an almost verbatim copy
of the treaty had been published in the
press of the country.
There was some discussion as to when
the treaty might be considered, and sena-
tor White asked if it was the intention
ply being made that it was possible, the
California senator said: Il desire to say
that 1 am prepared to stay here all sum-
mer to prevent the ratification OF the
treaty which 1 consider a very bad prop
osition.
"In join you," said Senator Pettigrew
of South Dakota.
The message was not a very long doc
ument. 1t dealt with historical facts con-
corning the islands and showed that the
United States and Hawaii yearly grew
more closely bound to each other. This
was not really annexation, the President
said, but a continuation of existing rela-
tions with closer bonds between people
closely related by blood and kindred ties.
Since 1920 said the President, the pre-
dominance of the United States had been
known. The sending of the first envoy
there brought the Islands in closer fela~
tion with the United States and those re-
lations had grown more firm by succeed
ing events. At the time the tripartite
agreement was made for Samoa, he said,
Great Britain and Germany wanted to in
clude Hawaii in the group over which
a protectorate was established, but the
suggestion was rejected by the United
States, because this government held that
there already existed relations between
Hawaii and the United States, which
Snnpi1l
of this country, and that this government
could not allow any other country to in
terfere in the affairs Of Hawaii.
The annexation of the islands, said the
President and making them a part Of the
United States, was in accordance with the
established policy of this country.
The President called attention to the
fact that a legitimate and existing gov
eminent of Hawaii offered to annex the
islands to the United States in 1851 but,
on account of what was deemed best poll
icy, annexation was not accepted by this
country He stated that the United States
had virtually exercised a protectorate over
the island since the first American mis-
sion, and guaranteed the autonomy of the
government of the group. The Islands
had been largely settled by our own peo-
pie, and our people were now interested
On them. American interests predominant
ed, and we had grown to consider them
under our own protection. The present
treaty was In the light Of a consumma-
tion of what had practically been in exist
ence for years.
Referring to the treaty negotiated under
the Harrison administration, President
Mckinley said that the failure to accept
the proffer OF annexation in 1898. while
not a subject of congratulate ton, was not
wholly without its value, as it had demon
strated that the existing government could
maintain itself, and no question could be
aF h.
government to negotiate the. present
treaty or its right to yield the sovereign
~ Of the islands.
The treaty was signed at 900 o'clock this
morning at the state department by Sec
retary Sherman for the United States and
Messrs. Hatch, Thurston and Kinney for
the Hawaiian government The Hawaiian
representatives. had brought with them a
gold pen in plain holder, and at their re-
quest, this was used for all the signatures
Secretary Sherman signed first the copy
intended to be held here. while Minister
Hatch signed first the Hawaiian copy Of
The treaty, his ow-commissoners COM
ing next in order, Mr.. Thurston first fol-
lowed by Mr.. Kinney. The treaties were
sealed by Assistant Secretary Crld,er
with private seal carried on his watch
chain the copies were handed TO their re-
spective custodians and the treaty was
made as far as the executive branch Of the
oNfNt NthlutuA foulN erect H. IneFc was a
eeneral exchange OF congratulations be-
.Ween the parties TO the ceremony and
HIler a photograph had been taken OF the
commissioners the ceremony was ended.
before the final signature OF the docu-
ment' the Secretary Of State was presented
WIN a formal protest by the japanese
government, by its legation here, against
we contamination OF the agreement. The
protest is understood 10 be based on appre-
h.nsion that the special treaties now ex-
hung between Japan and Hawaii. under
"Heh the japanese enjoy advantages. Will
4 alton.
me treaty proved 10 be n simple docu-
meht or six articles. based In its essential
ge,aHs upon the treaty negotiated by Hon.
1onn w. Foster during the administration
~ PRESIDENT Harrison. The islands are ce-
truea practically without conditions, leav-
lus the United States TO pursue It's own
curse with reference to their manage
me hrst article reads as follows: "The
government OF the Hawaiian Islands here
oeues from the date OF exchange OF