The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-06
HOSHpS LETTERS ON HAWAII.
TEXT OF THE CORRESPONDENCE
CONVEYING JAPANs PROTEST.


status of Hawaii-Secretary sher-
man Later Informs the Minister
That This Government Does Not
Tnke Upon Itself HaVvaiPs Treaty
ObIigntiOns-Eacb Side Processes
Warm Friendship for the other.
Washington, July 5.-The formal protest
of Japan against the annexa tion of Hawaii
to the United States became available to-
day The full correspondence is as fol-
lows:
Legation of Japan, Washington. June
Is, 1S97.-Sir: 1 beg to again call your at
tention to the subject Of our interview to-
day, the rumor that the governments of
the United States and of Hawaii are on
the point of concluding a treaty aunexing
the Hawaiian Islands to this country as
a territorial part thereof AS had the
honor to state to you this rumor has been
repeated during the past few days with
circumstantlal of detail which gives it the
appearance of authority 1t not only
states positively that the annexation will
soon take place, but also gives with ap-
parent precision certain portions of the al
the rights acquired by the government
of Japan and japanese subjects by treaty
with Hawaii, and under the constitution
and laws of that country. 1t is on this
account that desire to repeat what 1 had
the honor to state in our interview to-day,
that my government cannot view without
cencern the prospects of sudden and COM
plete change in the status of Hawaii
whereby the rights Of Japan and of Japan
ese subjects may be imperilied.
while, therefore, they confidently rely
upon the United States to maintain toward
them just and friendly attitude in this,
as in all other matters, they feel that un-
der the circumstances they cannot be re-
garded as spectators merely without in
terest In the important change which it
has been so positively asserted is about to
take place in the relations of the United
States and the Hawaiian Islands.
For this reason, if it is really true that
a treaty of annexation is about to be con-
cluded, am justified in inquiring of you,
Mr.. Secretary, what provision has been
made therein for the preservation and
maintenance Of the rights acquired and en-
joyed by Japan in her intercourse with
Hawaii under the so.emn sanctions Of law
and of treaty?
Accept, Mr.. Secretary the renewed as
surances of my highest consideration.
"Toru Hoshi.
ITO Hon. John Sherman, Secretary of
State"
To this, Secretary Sherman replied as
follows
Department of State, Washington, D.
c., June 16, 1S97.-Sir: Replying to your
note of the 18th instant, just received, l
have to say that the governments of Ha-
wall and the United States, by their duly
authorized representatives, have signed a
treaty annexing the Hawaiian Islands to
this country. This has been done in pur-
suance of policy long since adopted by
the United States, and the treaty will, /
understand, be submitted to the Senate OF
the United States by the President for
ratification.
"As to your inquiry as to the provision
made therein concerning the treaties
which may be in existence between ia
pan and the present Hawaiian govern
ment, my understanding is that the gov
ernment of the United States does not
take upon itself any obligations of the
Hawaiian government arising from trea-
ties or conventions made by it with other
governments. 1t is believed that there is
nothing in the proposed treaty pTejudicial
to the rights of Japan, and certainly the
United States has no disposition to dis
turb the friendly relations which have
long existed between the government of
Japan and this country.
accept Mr.. Minister, the renewed as
surance of my highest consideration.
John Sherman.
'"To Mr.. Toru Hoshi etc"
MIR. Hoshi then submitted Japan's for
NAL protest as follows: Legation OF Ja-
pan, Washington, June 10. 1897: Sir: Re-
ferring to the correspondence which has
passed between us regarding the propos-
ed annexation Of the Hawaiian Islands to
the United States have the honor TO in
form you that having communicated with
my government upon the subject am
now in receipt Of instructions from his
imperial majesty minister for foreign af-
fairs, In relation thereto.
Before divulging the nature OF these IN
structons I desire to state that, although
the imperial government could not have
failed to attach due weight to the state
ment In your communication to me OF the
18th instant that. in your opinion there
Is nothing In the proposed treaty preju-
dicial to the rights Of Japan they must
also have taken note Of the fact that In
alluding In the same communication 10
existing treaties between Japan and 9a-
wall you state that your understanding
is that the government OF the United
States does not take upon itself any OBJ
legations OF the Hawaiian government
arising from treaties or conventions with
other governments have now the hon
or TO inform you that am instructed by
his Imperial maJesty's government to for
mally protest against the proposed an
nexation OF the Hawaiian Islands TO the
United States.
This protest is made for the following
reasons:
Il. The maintenance OF the status quo OF
Hawaii Is essential 10 the good under
standing OF the powers which have inter-
ests Ia the Pacific.
'2. The action OF Hawaii would tend 10
endanger the residential, commercial and
Industrial rights OF Japanese subjects IN
Hawaii, secured 10 them by treaty and by
the constitution and laws OF that country.
-. Such action might lead 20 the post
ponement by Hawaii OF the settlement Of
claims and liabilities already existing Ia
favor Of Japan under treaty stipulatlons.
with reference 20 the mischievous suK-
gestion or report which has been 20 in
dustriously circulated In this country and
elsewhere that Japan has designs against
the integrity or sovereignty Of Hawaii ]
am further instructed bv the lfnuorlal INV