The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
TEL oH1vA,s FIeHr Ar HONOLULU
Hawaii In y ouandnry-Fivairy Between
Rtenu,nhtp Iines.


HONOLULU, Aug. 10. via San Francisco. Aug.
21.-The big steamship China OF the Pacific Mail
Company, crowded with passengers and with
valuable freight for Oriental points. was for
hvc days tied up to her dock whilo her flag
owner, Col. George w. MacFarlane, and
her commander. Capt. Seabury, were bat
Ting with the Hawaiian Government for
tho right to sail the vessel under the
Hawaiian flag. The Cabinet, after considering
the matter at several executive meetings, re-
| fused to grant the China n Hawaiian register,
on the grounds that having agreed with United
States Minister Sewall. on June go. that no
more Hawaiian registers would BIO granted to for
eign vessels during tho time the annexation
treaty is pending before Congress-. it would be
an act OF bad faith TO make an exception Of
the China.
Finally last night II was agreed to give tho
China a provisional register until her return to
this port, and she will sail to-day. 1nstruc-
tons were sent TO Hawaiian Consuls not to
issue any moro provisional registers. and these
orders. reaching Consul. General Wilder at San
Francisco, were Cabled TO all parts OF the world.
Col. MaCFarlane asserts that neither these In
struCtions nor the assurance given to Minister
any effect in the case Of the China, as they did
not reach London until July 8, where
as on July Q the China Steamship Company,
then owning the China, was disincorporated, the
vessel sold to him and a sea letter or provisional
register granted to the vessel by Hawaiian Con-
owner then proeeeded to San FTsncisco. where
the British register Of the China was surren-
dered to the British Consul-Ge neral at that port,
and the Hawaiian flag was raised.
The China was held here under an expense OF
$1,000 a day. She has u large amount OF mail
gers, many of whom are anxious to reach their
destinations. Her freights also are heavy.
tions, and it is probable that either the Pacific
Mail Company or this Government will have to
Pay pay damages 3 am1unting to a largo sum when
against Col, MssFssriaSe' and the Pacific Mail
Colonel shows that he paid just Ave shillings for
the magnificent steamship; WHICH cost her build.
that Col. MacFarlane is not the bona ide owner
Of the vessel, and they propose to make that
one Of their strong points in fighting the case as
Underlying the diplomatic and legal phases Of
the case, powerful commercial and political
tent influence upon the Hawaiian Government
than the law OF country. The question under
has been a. to what the effect OF the granting OF
a register to the China would have upon an
nexation. and how many votes II would infu-
ence when Congress again considers the an
and one which a Minister was heard to remark
the Cabinet would gladly shift upon the courts
II the islands should be annexed in December
the Pacific Mail Company would not have a
single vessel that would be entitled to touch at
an island port, and would be completely driven
out OF the Hawaiian trade, which Is at present
has three steamships flying the American flag
in trade. and would thus have a ",cinch" on the
islands. These vessels are the Alameda, Mari
posa. and Australia.
By getting the China into tho island trade
the Pacific Mail Company could enter into
actual competition with Spreckels. as she is a
much superior steamer to the Oceanic liners
and u faster boat.
By granting the China a register the
Government would incur the enmity OF
Spreckels, and by refusing hor a register
the enmity Of Huntington would be in
CURED. OF the two horns OF the dilemma the
Government chose apparently the lesser and
then fell back upon the promise made to Wash
ington. through Minister Sewall, as an excuse
for It's action.
The Pacific Mail steamship Baracoutn. now
plying between Central American ports, re-
celved a provisional register in London at
the same time as the China; MacFarlane.
is also her flag owner. and should he get a
Hawaiian register for the China he will bring
the Barracuda here to register also. which would
give the Pacific Mail two steamers for the isl.
and trade,