Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-16
THREATENED BY JAPAN
Defeat Would Not Dispose Of the Hawaiian
Question.
Ex-Secretary Foster Discusses the
frobHbie Political Eject Of Reject
Ing the Annexation Treaty

TA-SeCFetary roster, who assisted in ne
gotiating the first treaty OF annexation
with Hawaii under the administration of
President Harrison. has made state
ment showing the probable political eff
feet that would follow the rejection of the
pending treaty by the Senate.
The opponents IN Congress of Hawaiian
annexation" he says. will not have dis
posed of the question by voting against
and defeating this measure. Having re-
fused the application of the island govern
mont fer incorporation into our Union.
such an act necessarily carries with 1t
the right of the former to determine its
own political destiny unin1uencei by con-
s!deratlons affecting the United States.
But such a course would present en-
harrassments to Congress of no small mo-
ment. During the last administration OF
President Cleveland the House of Rep
resentatives resolved that foreign inter
vention in the political affairs of the is
lands will not Ice regarded with indifcr-
ence by the government Of the United
States. During the same session the Sem
ale, by unanimous vote, went q step
furlner and declared that any nterven-
ton in the political affairs of these is
lands 10y any got er4.mt al Viii Ice regarded
as an act unfr:endly TO The United states.
These utteraDces Were in line with the
policy OF cur government for a half CEN
fury, bat il is possible and competent for
Congress TO change the policy of the CO.
eminent at any time. Its rejection of an
neXation would in effect nuliify the decla-
ratons cited, but there would sim be an
other serious embarrassment TO lie dts
posed OF, to wit. the reciprocity treaty.
Even if rejected by the United States IL
viii not be difficult for the present Ha-
waiian government to successfully main
tain Itself against local opposition.
For many years before it was established
the administration of the islands had been
IN the control Of the foreign residents,
the native rulers berg mere puppets in
their hands. The property interests, which
are almost exclusively held 10y the white
residents and foreigners, VIII control the
government so long as ii marta ms its in
dependence. But it IS plain the islands cam
not long maintain their autonomy. The
most threatening present danger is from
Japan. That country may be perfectly
sincere in its declaration that it does not
seek the annexation Of the islands. but
the current of events. If not checked. viii
lead inevitably to that result. The opera
ton of the existing immigration treaty,
as interpreted by Japan, VIII soon bring
about tire supremacy Of the Japanese IN
the islands. The authorities of the republic
and the empire are now at issue as to this
treaty. 1t require no prophet to fcresee
winch construction Of il VIII prevail, if the
islands are not annexed to The United
States or some other power does not inter-
yere.
urGer the dominion of Japan. If the peop!e
of American origin now in control OF the
government are rejected by Congress. they
will, in my opinion, turn to their k.Ismcn,
the English and Canadians They have
learned from the colonial history of Great
Britain that wherever the British flag goes
there follow equal taxation. jus: ana i'm
partial administration OF the laws and hon
est and orderly government. Will" l have
no information to the purposes OF the
present Hawaiian rulers, 4 feel sure that
when ii is finally determined THAI they are
not TO be annexed to the United States
they will lose no time in opening negotia-
items with Great Britain, aud the result OF
those negotiations Will be neither slow Tor
uncertain.
Mr. Seward. one of the most far-sigatcd
of our statesmen. declared in The Senate
half a century ago: The Pacific ocean. its
shores. its islands. and the vast regions be-
ycnd, will become the chief theateF of
events in the worlds great hereafter
Possessed with this idea. ne brought into
our Union the vast outlying territory of
Alaska and sought the annexation Of Ha-
wall, but the time was not then propitious.
His prophe cy is becoming "A reality today in
the wonderful development of the COM
merce of the Pacific. The opportunity
which he sought in order to give our coun-
try supremacy in this vast trade will be
thrown away and transferred to our great
est rival if we reject annexation now"