Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-14

count Okuma, except tnat Mr.. Sh1ma mura
disclaimed official authority to say any
thing on the subject of annexation.
Is Arbitration Admirable:
When the arbitration matter was brought
up he called into the room Mr.. Akiyama,
the special legal adviser sent from Toxic to
cooperate with him in the settlement of
the immigration controversy. Mr.. Akiyama
is smooth-shaven, stout, smiling and pug
nacious. After much questioning 1 elected
from them joint answer to the query
whether this issue was one in respect to
which arbitration is admissible that was
much milder in tone than Mr.. Shimamura's
previous utterances. Possibly instructions
on the subject had been received from
Toxic since the date of the first interview
Mr.. Shimamura said: II cannot say yet
whether the matter does or does not fall
within the class of cases in respect to
which arbitration is admissible Japan is
seeking only justice. Much will depend
upon the nature of the answer which am
awaiting from the Hawaiian government.
Japan may not object to arbitration
After the Hawaiian answer above re-
ferred to had been sent 1 called again on
MIR. Shimamura. reminded him that he had
made his views concerning the admissible
ity of arbitration dependent on the char
acter of Mr.. Coopers reply and asked If
there was now anything that he wished to
add to what he had said on this subject
He replied courteously that he could say
nothing further concerning arbitration, that
the whole matter now rested with his home
government. We talked for some time
about other phases of the controversy, and
ne gave no indie cation of indignation or ex-
e. init of
tional action on his part, such as demand
ing his passport. and quitting the country.
at which he had at one time hinted.
Akfynma's Angry Outburst.
Counsellor Akiyama, whom 1 met in the
Hawaiian Hotel, was not so restrained and
circumspect. He said with much heat con-
cerning Mr.. Coopers last letter: It's
smoke. smoke. nothing but smoker He
asked me if 1 had read the letter. I replied
in the negative, saying, however, that l
thought 1 knew its substance. He snapped
out: 1T has substance. l going
home on the next steamer. There is moth
ing that l can do here. My government
will now settle the matter
Hawaii to Propose Arbitration.
The issues ir the immigration contro-
tion is clearly one in respect to which arbi-
tration is appropriate. and this fact is
recognized by Count Okuma, who controls
japanese foreign policy. The Hawaiian
government may reasonably be expected to
apply at once for the good offices of the
United States to bring about such arbitra
ton by some impartial umpire. before Japan
hurls an ultimatum and mediation Is rem
dered difficult. This step cannot be taken
too quickly. When the disappointed and
eXaspereted Akiyama gets to Toxic the
tepGercy of his reports and recommends
tions, and of his influence, So far as 1t
gees, cannot fail to be in the direction OF
some vigorous action against Hawaii and
in opposition. to arbitration. --.-..
The annexation treaty news was not ex-
pected at II is time, even by the Hawaiians,
and came as complete surprise and shock
to Japan's representatives here. Neither
Count Okuma in Toxic nor Mr.. Shimamura
here showed any appreciation of the pos
sibility of such an event as the speedy
signing of a treaty. Japan's protest to the
United States against the treaty, which,
1t is understood, is to be reinforced by
similar protest to the Hawaiian govern
ment against its ratification, was also
startling surprise to everybody. The init
nation of the possibility of such protest
made to me by Count Okuma in Toxic was,
l was informed by prominent official here,
the most definite and significant statement
on the subject made up to that time by
any representative of japan, the previous
policy having been to profess complete in
difference en- the subject, as a matter in
which Japan was not especially concerned.
The Protest VIII Help Annexation.
While courteous consideration of Japan's
protest may work some slight delay in
voting upon the annexation treaty, the ulti-
mate effect of the protest should be to in
crease the votes in favor of annexation
when tine time for action comes. 1t throws
a light upon the real views and purposes OF
Japan in respect to the islands. 1t shows
that Hawaii is to be japanese If not Ameri-
can, and that annexation is the only way
to prevent it's abandonment to Asia. 1T
makes annexationists of those who, averse
to annexation except as last resort, re-
frse to yield to a possible enemy control OF
so importsnt a naval and strategetic point
in the adjacent Pacific, and who are un-
willing to surrender to the tender mercies
of Japan the progressive American COM
munity and government in these Islands,
and will not permit the civilized and Chris
ian institutions of Hawaii to be sub
merged and lost in pagan and Asiatic
flood.
Japan's political interest in the islands,
frequently denied, is now clearly revealed.
For many years there has been steady
pressure, sometimes by officials. sometimes
by individuals, to gain representation in
the Hawaiian government for the japanese
in the islands. A high official at Toxic
told me that when Kalakaua was king he
promised such representation to the Japa-
nese. This statement is not improbable
1t is known that at one time Kalakaua be-
lieved that the affinities of the Hawaiians
were Asiatic rather than American, and
sought for a matrimonial alliance between
certain scions of royalty of Japan and
Hawaii. At the time Of the revolution of
1893 the japanese consul general demanded
of the new government the right of suffrage
for Japanese subjects in the islands In
Count Okumas first communication to the
Hawaiian government in the pending i'm
migration controversy ne advanced the vi=w
that the treaty between Japan and Hawaii
placed tie Japanese in the islands on terms
of absolute equality with Hawaians "in
civil rights well as in the protection
of life and property, and this pronositiop