The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-27
.JAPAN'S REPLY
MADE PUBLIC
Viii Continue to Wage Diplomatic
War and Nay Go Further.
SHE OPPOSES ANNEXATION
10 20 tneeriaiS Toass Sets forth iier Ksa-
soHs Why Hawaii should Rsmsin
Independent

New York. Juyi 2G.--A special TO IN
Herald says that Japan viii continu
10 oppose the Hawaiian annexat!e
treaty. This - concluslveiy shown b
the latest japanese government advice
under date OF July 70. which IS nos
made public for the FIRST time. whl
couched ln polite and diplomatic Ian
guage. the protest Is sufficiently firm
in tone to show that Japan will eontinu
to wage diplomatic war. and possibly
go further TO prevent the consummatior
OF the annexation policy Japan's repl,
in part Is as follows:
Legation Of Japan. Washington, july
10 Sir: Replying TO your note OF date
The 18th ult. In answer TO mine ~ the
ssh ult.. regarding the proposed ainexA-
ton OF the Hawaiian islands TO the United
States. / have the honor 10 inform you
1 that communicated in substance tc
Count oiuuna. from whom I am in re-
celpt OF telegraphic instructions eSnbody-
ing the viewsh OF the imperial govern
ment in relation thereto
Taking note OF what you say in re-
ply to the representation l had the hon
or to make in behalf Of my government
with reference TO the necessity OF main
iaInlng the status quo OF Hawai-. The
imperial government has no hesI;i non in
admitting the predominant inHw nee OF
the United States in the Hawa--an ISL
ands.
In their opinion. however, the very
fact that predominance mas existea SO
long unquestioned might DC urseo as .
reason against the aisturhanre 81 e
status quo. more especially as practically
the whole population acknowledges the
paramount importance OF the relations
os their country with the United States
while It is understood that only a small
fraction OF that number favor annexa-
ton
From this it may be reasonably in
eerrgd that the predominant and para
mount influence OF the United States,
which. as you remark. has been the
cne essential feature Of the staus quo
through three-quarters Of a century. in
" hich the constitution and government
OF Hawaii and the commerce OF the ISL
ands with the world have undergone
notable changes, furnishes on the one
hand thu amplest guarantee against any
thing inimical TO either the United
States or Hawaii. while on he other hand
It obviates the necessity of change in
existing conditions which will injuriously
affect the interests OF Others.
Tho policy of colonial expansion
among European countries was especial
ly active on the Pacific during the de-
cade ending 1892, and as a result. nearly
all OF the island groups then autonomous
passed under the sway of various West
ern powers. BY common accord the
powers have recently appeared willing 10
stay their hands and international rival
ly and conflicting interests are now the
best guarantees for the continued SOW
ereign existence of the few remaining
island groups. Yet the absorption by
the United States of such an important
part OF the remaining unappropriated
region as Hawaii would doubtless be the
signal for the removal OF dormant terri
torial ambition In tho Pacific and the
last vestige of natire Autonomy would
disappear.
1T can easily be seen how this would
affect tho interests of Japanese subjects
who are now engaging in increasing
numbers In various undertakings mad en-
terprises In the Pacific with profit to
themselves and advantage to Japan. 1t
was precisely on account of the preva-
lenco OF this spirit OF colonial absorption
that one of your honorable predecessors
was led to declare to tho German gov
ernment that your government attached
great Importance to he 'mainenance OF
rights to which the United States be-
comes entitled In the hew renlatnng
regions now under independent and au-
tonomous native guvornments IN tho
Pacific OCEAN
'sThe justice of that declaration can
not be questioned. and the imperial gov
arnment entertaining similar vtewH.
could not behold with indiffsrenss
changes In the status OF those govern
ments that would extingutsh japanese
rights. They have no intention Of oues-
tioning the actual situation IN the Paolno
and certainly no desire to In anywiss
disturb It, but their position tn that part
OF the world renders It impossible for
them to view with unconcern and In a
spirit Of acquiescense the consequences
which would probably follow the extinc-
ton of the Hawaiian Sovereignty. The
imperial government recognizes It as a
well established principle OF international
law that the completion of annexation
would render the treaties and conven-
tions at present existing between Japan
and Hawaii voidable. either at tho option
of Japan or the United States. but they
cannot anticipate without apprehension
the consequences. whether direct CT In
direct, which would follow tho uradtl-
cal contamination df r5a theorY tliaS
1nuexatiou ipse fscto meeuH tl1a lznnaedk