The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-06
THE PROTEST OF JAPAN
WHY SHE OPPOSES THE ANNEXA-
 TION OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.

Maintainance of the Status Quo in Ha-
 wnii Essential-Annexation Would En-
 danger Japanese Kights-Japan Never
 Has Had Any Designs Upon the Islands
 Secretary Sherman's Answer.
 Washington, July 1.-The correspond ence conducted with the formal protest of Japan against the annexation of Ha- waii to the United States was made public to-day. On June 15 last Toru Hoshi the Japanese minister here sent a letter to Secretary of State sherman in which he calls attention to the rumor that the governments of the United States and of Hawaii are on the point of concluding treaty annexing the ia- waiian Islands to this country. He asks what provision has been made in the treaty for the preservation and maintenance of the rights acquired and enjoyed by Japan in her intercourse with Hawaii under the solemn sanc- tions of law and treaty
 Secretary Sherman, replying on June 16, admits that the governments of Ha- waii and the United States have signed a treaty annexing the Hawaiian Isl ands to the United States. This, he says, has been done in pursuance of the policy long since adopted by the United States. He says his understanding is that the government of the United States does not take upon itself any obligations of the Hawaiian govern ment arising from treaties or conven- tions with other governments.
 It is believed there is nothing in the proposed treaty prejudical to the rights of Japan and certainly the United States has no disposition to disturb the friendly relations which have long ex- isted between the government of Japan and this country.
 Minister Hoshi then submitted Ja- pans formal protest. The minister, in this communication, says:
 T am instructed by his imperial ma jesty's government to formally protest against the proposed annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.
 This protest is made for the follow ing reasons:
 First. The maintenance of the status quo of Hawaii is essential to the good understanding of the powers which have interests in the Pacific.
 Second, The annexation of Hawaii would tend to endanger the residential, commercial and industrial rights of Jap anese subjects in Hawaii secured to them by treaty and by the constitution and laws of that country.
 Third, Such annexation might lead to the postponement by Hawaii of the settlement of claims and liabilities al- ready existing in favor of Japan.
 1T am further instructed by the i'm perial government to state most em- phatically and unequivocally that Ja- pan has not now, and never had, de- signs of any kind whatever against Hawaii.
 Tn making this protest the imperial government are actuated by what they regard as an imperative duty and not in the remotest degree by a desire to embarras the United States They ap- precite most highly the cordial rela- tions which have always existed be- tween our countries, and they confi- dently trust that their representatives on this occasion will be received in that spirit of justice and fair dealing which has so notably characterized the inter- course of Japan and the United States"
 Then followed Secretary Sherman's answer, which has already been pub liehed.