Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-05
Japan Complains of Delay.

To a press interviewer Messrs Shima-
mura and Akiyama INDUCED On the 18th
in some complaints that Minister Cooper
had been extremely tardy i'll replying to
their lengthy letter Of the 4th. They think
he has had time enough TO write a book
The fact doubtless is that he has been
very much occupied in attending to Mr..
Sewall, which fully accounts for his say
ing, as he does, that he has not yet had
time to reply to the Japanese minister.
And if, as can hardly be otherwise, Mr..
Sewall has to take time to form his own
views upon the matter at ISSUE this is an
obvious reason for considerable delay on
Mr.. Cooper's part, as the nature of his re-
ply is not unlikely to be materially mod
flied by the opinions of the representative
of the United States. Whatever reply is
made is likely to be as coEciliatory in tone
as practicable. One reason for endeavoring
to continue friendly relations with Japan
is the necessity to the sugar plantations
Of not suddenly breaking off the regular
supply thence Of contract laborers Any
such change in the source of labor reeds
10 be gradually made. 1t was the reckless
importation by the immigration companies
OF tramp immigrants that was particularly
objected to.
Proposed Japanese Cable.
There are various indications that there
is now no great expectation Of enforcing
the japanese views upon Hawaii. Ore
was the return home on the 18th of Y.
1shigawa, editor of the Ohno Shimbun, a
leading Tokyo paper. He came on the
Naniwa, to write up the difficulty. but
now pronounces the whole affair to be Of
such trivial character that 1t is not
worth his while to wait here for its de-
rouement. This is probably a sensible
view for a good newspaper man to take,
seeing that Uncle Sam is getting a finger
into the pie. Mr.. Ishigswa is, however.
deeply interested in Japanese project for
a cable from Japan to Hawaii to connect
with one TO be landed here from Calfor-
mia. On the Peru, in which he sailed. was
Mr.. Matsumote. who is actively pushing
that cable scheme, in which japanese cap
italists are taking strong interest. He
has conferred with Colonel z. s. Spalding,
for cable to Hawaii. He thinks good
intermediate point will be found at the
Marshall Islands, about 1900 miles west of
Honolulu. Those islands belong to Ger
many. This Pacific cable question.is rap
idly coming to the front.
Japan finds Geographic communication
with America, and even with England
much too costly. Not many years can
pass before some of Il e many Pacific cable
schemes materiailze. The Pacific cable
nexation of Hawaii are three things most
intimately related. because Hawaii must
be the crossing point Of all the cables; be-
cause the larger half of the trans-Pacifc
steamer traffic from the canal must call
at Honolulu for coal, and because the con-
sequent growth and central Importance of
Hawaii will make it the great strategic
point of this ocean, and therefore its pos
session essential to the United States. Ha-
wall Is just now in hands which tender
1t freely to the United States. Left 20
itself it is liable to pass under some other
form of government, which will withdraw
that offer Of peaceable possession.
KAMEHAMEHA.