The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
HAWAIIANS ARE FIRM
HAVE MADE NO CONCESSION TO THE
JAPANESE ERNMENT.
immigration Question Unchanged
Fertile Islands in South Seas
Grabbed by Britain.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 24.-The steam
ship China arrived from Yokohama this
morning, bringing the following advices to
the Associated Press:
Honolulu, July 17.-Counselor Akyama,
who was sent to Honolulu by the Japanese
government as special commissioner in the
| Naniwa, returned to Toxic on the 18th.
1.-THE Japanese question remains in statu
quo" said Attorney Smith. I'VE have
given our views, which happen to be. diam
critically opposite to those of Japan, and
there we are. The last phase was sub
mitted to Minister Shimamura about two
weeks ago. and he felt it was his duty to
submit the matter TO his home govern
ment. In all our intercourse with him, Min
lister Shimamura has shown himself to be
anxious to have the differences settled am
icably and with as little trouble as possible.
Both publicly and privately he has been
all that any one could desire. He is
| carrying out the instructions of his govern
ment in asking us to accede in certain
things, which we cannot do. He does not
| feel that he can give way, and that is our
| position. We have certainly made no head
way and it does not look as though we can
under the present conditions. You under
stand that claim the right to pass and
enforce laws which regulate the immigra-
ton to this country III one of the first
communicat tons received from Minister
| Shimamura on the subject he admitted that
right, but later he claimed for his govern
ment that the enforcement of such a law
was in direct violation of the clause in the
treaty which gives subjects of Japan the
same rights as those of the most favored
| nations.
What do 1 think will happen if Japan
was to sever her treaty relations with Ha-
wall? Why, she would be thrown out of
| court, so tar as this difficulty is concerned.
1 do not know what the general result
beneficial Our interests have been benefit
ed by the Japanese and those people have
been benefited through earning money for
| themselves and their families"
When arbitration was suggested as the
only solution to the dilemma Mr.. Smith
l. The schooner Norma arrived from the
South seas on the 18th. While the vessel
Rosehill secured sufficient evidence to war
rant the belief that England had taken
formal possession OF number of small fer
tile islands in that portion Of the globe with
out stopping to inquire who the owners
might be- There are many lagoon islands
are now being brought under cultivation
for English companies, who are plant
ing, cocoanut groves and other . trop-
The most marked evidence of English
possession was found on the Palmyra
group, situated in something like latitude
sidered the more remarkable because the
islands which are of the lagoon formation,
and some fourteen in number, have been
owned by the Hawaiian government since
1862, and are published as such in South
sea island Biographies They were taken
possession of formally in the name of the
Hawaiian government in 1862 by master
mariner who was given to exploring. AT
that time a house was erected on the
largest island, vegetables planted about the
place and a white man and several natives
landed there as a colony. The venture did
not succeed at the time and all evidence of
the old dwelling has disappeared.
4 had not visited Palmyra island for
perhaps a dozen years until A. GoZenS, a.
planter, who came with me from Hull ISL
and, and l went ashore there few weeks
ago." said Captain Rosehll. Almost the
first thing that attracted our attention on
the island was the remnant of an old flag
pole, at the foot of which was a proclama-
ton written on cloth, but for the most part
effaced by the weather. was nailed to a
stout piece of planking We could only
make out enough of the working to indi-
cate that the sign was a proclamation de-
claring the islands among the possessions
of Great Britain. Evidently party had
landed from a man-Of-war there a short
time ago and remained there for some time,
for the tent stakes were still in the ground
and heaps of ashes remained where camp
ies had merrily blazed. Bits OF clothing
and trappings picked up about the place
bore the initials of the H. M. S. Penguin"
Japan VIII Oppose Annexation.
SAN FRANCISCO July 24.-The steam
ship China arrived from Hong-Kong and
Yokohama, bringing Japanese advices to
July Z. The Japanese papers contain more
fully an interview with Count Okuma the
Japanese minister of foreign affairs, brief
synopsis of which was teegraphed from
Vancouver few days ago. In the inter
view which was published in the Yomikri
Count Okuma is quoted as saying, relative
to the proposed annexation of Hawaii by
the United States: Japan must oppose to
the utmost. The annexation must not be
recognized. England has repeatedly at
tempted to make Egypt dependent, but
france being positively opposed to that ar
rangement, England is obliged to stand by
Tie status quo. Just in the same way ia
pdn must oppose the annexation to the ut
most, and must stand by this decision res
Olutely. Japan has communicated to Eng
land, Germany and France the reasons for
her protest against annexation. They may
send their answers before long. After all,
no excitement should be raised against
Mr.. Oshi, vice minister of agriculture and
commerce, who is regarded as one of the
heutenants of Count Okuma, according to
the Japan Gazette, Is SAID 10 nave spoken
on the annexation Question in the follow
ing manner: We have now made vigorous
protests against the United Stales with
view to maintaining the peace Of the Pa
diplomacy Iust- see how many countries
there are in the world which dare to prefer
such a protest against America Even the
sC-called powers of Europe concede step
to the United States"
BY the swapping of a cable four flour
boats. near Canton, were overturned late
in June, and one hundred persons lost their
lives
At Woo-Sung China June 2S. serious
trouble was threatened through practice
firing from the fort. which the commander
of H. NJ. S. Immortalite mistook for bonn
bardment of his vessel.
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