The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-24
Members of the Senate Foreign Re1a-
in a Serious Light.
AMOUNTS TO AN ULTIMATUM
NO ACTION LOOKING TO RATIFICA-
TION TO BE TAKEN THIS SESSION.
Annexation Bill Introduced by Sem
atOr MOrgan-Scheme to Pass the
Treaty by Majority Vote.

WASHINGTON, June 23.-The Hawaiian
annexation treaty formed the principal
topic of consideration by the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations at it's brief ses-
sion to-day. The treaty and accompanying
papers were read and referred to a subcom-
mittee consisting of Senators Davis, For
aker and Morgan, with instructions to in
vestigate the entire question and report to
the full committee. The papers read In
cluded the protest made by Japan against
the annexation. The subcommittee will
consider all the complications likely to grow
out of annexation, including those referring
to the trade relations of the islands. This
will involve a study of all of Hawaiis
treaties with the other countries The in
quiry necessarily will require considerable
time, and no effort will be made by the full
committee to take the subject up until the
subcommittee shall be able to report on all
the details. The realization of this fact has
led the members of the committee to con-
clude that it is improbable that the COM
mittee as a whole will be able to pass on the
subject during the session.
The protest from Japan Is considered In
serious light, and the committee took ex-
ceptional precautions to prevent the pub
lication of its proceedings. The protest was
accepted as almost an ultimation on Japans
part to the effect that the treaty must not
be perfected 1t is not protest against
the form of the document as had been sup
posed In some quarters, but against the
document itself, or rather against the
transaction, as being opposed to Japan In
tereSts. The specific reason alleged for the
protest Is that the contamination OF the
agreement between Hawaii and the United
States would disturb the existing trade re-
lo+i Of ha Pacific and
treaty rights The protest is in SUCH dennite
terms and is directed so squarely at an
neXation as to cause the committee to feel
that the entire matter should be nandled
with the utmost circumspect1on as the only
way in which complications or serious
nature can be avoided. While there is no
disposition on the part of a majority or the
committee to weaken in their support or the
treaty, there is a general feeling that the
friendly relations which have always eX-
listed between Japan and the United states
call for great elaboration and especial care
in proceeding in the matter; hence the APP
pointment of the subcommittee 10 CONSIDER
all the details to keep the proceedings OF
the committee from the public ana CONSIDER
the probability that the committee may not
be able to report during the present session
of Congress. With reference to THIS latter
point it may be stated as extremely prop
able that the matter VIII De neia G N apeg
ance by the subcommittee until Congress
conVenes in regular session next Decemper
for the double purpose Of permitting the
committee to make its investigation as
thorough as possible and to permit the ex-
ecutive to make its, best efforts through
diplomacy to persuade Japan OF the uhWls-
dom of her course. 1t is understood in this
connection that this delay IS In accordance
with the wishes of the administration as
intimated to members of the Senate
The opinion was expressed In committee
that a document of the character OF tnat
filed by Japan if presented by nation more
nearly the equal of the United States would 10
lead to very serious difficulties, but there is
a general desire to extend IN unusual con-
only because Of the uniformly friendly rela-
tions existing between that country and
this but also because it is felt that Japans
success in her with China may nave
had the effect of arousing spirit or com
bativeness which is not warranted, IN the
opinion of the members of the committee,
by her relative size and Importance as COM
pared with the United States
The State Department has practically
completed it's reply to the Japanese protest
against the Hawaiian annexation treaty,
but has not yet delivered it. the reply IS
said to be dignified In tone, a strong legal
defense of our position, which, without IN
any sense abatng our claims, still does not
disdain TO support them by much citation
OF precedent and international law.