The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-08-03

quo, more especially as practically the
whole population of Hawaii acknowl
edge the paramount Importance of the
relations of their country with the
United States, while it is understood
that only a small fraction of that num-
Der favor annexation.
From this it may be reasonably in
ferred that the predominant and para
mount influence of the United States,
which, as you remark, has been the
one essential feature of the statEs QUO
through three-QuarterS of century, IN
which the Constitution and Govern
ment OF Hawaii and the commerce of
the Islands with the world have un-
dergone notable changes, furnishes,
on the one hand, the amplest guaran-
tee against anything inimical to either
the United States or Hawaii, while on
the other hand it obviates the neces-
sity of a change in existing conditions
which will injuriously affect the inter-
eSts of others.
The policy of colonial expansion
among European countries was espe-
cially active on the Pacific during the
decade ending in 1892, and as result
nearly all of the island groups then
autonomous passed under the sway of
accord the powers have recently ap
peared willing to stay their hands,
and international rivalry and conflict
ing interests are now the best guaran
tees for the continued sovereign exist
ence of the few remaining island
groups.
Yet the absorption by the United
States of such an important part of the
inin
Hawaii would doubtless be the signal
ambition in the Pacific and the last
vestige of native autonomy would dis
appear. And it is not too much to ap-
prehend that a partial redistribution
Of colonial possessions among the va
rious Western powers might also fol-
low.
It can easily be seen how this would
affect the interests of Japanese sub
jects who are now engaging in increas-
ing numbers in various undertakings
and enterprises in the Pacific with
profit to themselves and advantage to
Japan. 1t was precisely on account of
the prevalence of this spirit of colonial
absorption that one of your honorable
predecessors was led to declare to the
y
ernment attached great Importance to
the maintenance of the rights to
which the United States becomes en-
titled in the few remaining regions
now under Independent and autono-
nous native governments in the Pa
cific Ocean,"
The justice of that declaration can
not be questioned and the Imperial
Government, entertaining similar
views, could not behold with indiffer
ence changes in the status of those
Governments that would eXtin guiSh
Japanese rights. They have no inten-
tion of questioning the actual situation
in the Pacific, and certainly no desire
to in anywise disturb it; but their pO-
sition in that part of the world renders
it impossible for them to view with
unconcern and in a spirit of acQui-
escence the consequences which would
probably follow the extinction of the
Hawaiian sovereignty.
The Imperial Government recog
nizes it as a well-established principle
of international law that the compile
ton of annexation would render the
treaties and convention at present ex-
listing between Japan and Hawaii void
able, either at the option of Japan or
the United States, but they cannot an
ticipate without apprehension the con-
whether direct or indirect,
which would follow the practical con-
summation of the theory that annex
alton ipso facto means the immediate
of those treaties and con-
ventions and the consequent cessation
for the future of the privileges granted
The justice or expediency Of extend
ing to Hawaii the treaty of 1858 at
present subsisting between Japan and
the United States is quite another
question. Such extension might be in
ferred from the language of the second
paragraph of article 8 of the proposed
treaty of annexation, which also pro-
vides for the extinction of Hawaii's ex-
listing treaties, but the treaty Of 1858 is
wholly non-reciprocal, and the I'm
perial Government is not prepared to
say that it could be extended with
out it's consent.
Under the circumstances, only the
most cursory view of the actual situa-
ton is required to show the disadvan-
tageous position in which Japan would
be placed by the abrupt termination of
her treaties, and by the consequent alb
sence of satisfactory conventional stip-
ulations for the protection of her rights
and the interests of her people.