Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-02
HAWAII AND ANNEXATION.
Minister Hatch Hurrying Home
Action on the Matter.


SAN FRANCISCO. September 1.-The
steamer Australia, from Honolulu direct,
arrived to-day. with the following Ha-
waiian advices:
Francis NJ. Hatch, the Minister to
Washington, arrived August 10Th, with
special information which will require
the attention OF both government and
Senate. and a secret notice has already
been issued TO the members OF the lat
ter body. calling upon them to meet in
extraordinary session September 9Th, 10
consider the question. Meanwhile,
Minister Hatch is in almost constant
consultation with President Dole and his
Cabinet.
The Lawmakers will be asked to
ratify the annexation treaty recently
signed in Washington, and as a ma
jority Of the members favor annexation,
the matter will be rushed through. The
reason for an extra session OF the
Senate is a matter of conjecture, and
much curiosity is evinced. One senator
is authority for the statement that
Minister Hatch brought notice from
President Mckinley that he had re-
solved to call Congress earlier than
usual, for the purpose OF disposing Of
the treaty before the regular session,
and this theory appears to find favor
with other senators.
Another matter to be considered by
the Hawaiian Senate + that OF render
ing assistance to the Executive In un-
ravelling the japanese muddle as IL Is
said that JapanS acceptance OF the Of
fer Of arbitration Is so vague that the
President and his Cabinet are in
quandary. There are rumors of a split
in the Cabinet on the question, and the
Intervention Of the Senate is required
to prevent an open rupture.
The Hawaiian Star has created
sensation by the publication Of
scheme. alleged TO have been backed
by the Sugar Trust, to block annexa-
ton. II is said that call has been
made for a monster demonstration Sep
tember 14th against union with the
United States. Senator Morgan and
Mr.. Jewett are expected to arrive from
the United States that day, and the OBJ
iect OF the anti-annexation demonstra-
ton is said to be to impress them with
the feeling upon the island.
The United States steamship Benning-
ton arrived from San Diego August 9th.
after a run Of nine days, and the Marion
was preparing to leave on the 26th for
Mare Island.
NO SPECIAL SESSION OF CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., September L.
There Is no disposition among officials
here TO question the correctness OF the
statement in the dispatches from Hawaii
10 the effect that Minister Hatch hur-
ried to Honolulu for the special purpose
OF securing annexation action by the
Hawaiian Government in advance OF the
meeting Of our Congress. There is no
rule in diplomatic practice that would
forbid Hawairs first acting upon tho
treaty, and the treaty itself does not in
dicate which government is to take the
initiative In the ratification.
While II is regarded as desirable, in
the execution OF the policy Of President
Mckinley toward Hawaii, as laid down
in his message transmitting the treaty
to Congress last June, that the document
shall be ready in all respects for the
action OF the United States Senate at
it's next session, il is not believed that
the President has any intention of call
ing a special session for the purpose OF
ratification Indeed considering the fact
that If the Hawaiian Legislature acts
with the greatest promptness upon the
treaty, It can scarcely complete this ac-
tion and return the ratified convention
to Washington before October, at the
earliest, 1t would appear TO be unneces-
sary to advance the session of Congress
by such a short space OF time as would
then intervene between that date and the
date upon which Congress meets In regu-
lar session.