The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-15
Treaty TO be Sent in on Prasi-
dents Return.
THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT
THIS TO BE DETERMINED BY
UNITED STATES.
SENATORS NUN BUT IN SECRET
IoO 10 A"q!I the Senate Counted on
ror Favorable Vote Treaty
Said to Have Been Al
ready Drawn.

Teady Drawn.
Washington, D. c., June IA treaty
for the annexation of Hawaii to the
United States will be sent to the Senate
soon after the return of the President.
unless present plans are altered. The
treaty has been written and all it's de-
tails were fully agreed upon before the
President and Secretary Sherman left
for the South.
1he treaty is on the general lines OF
the tEeaty negotiated during the admin
lstratiOn of President Harrison and
Withdrawn by President Cleveland. II
provides for annexation without the ax-
action OF conditions on the part of the
Hawallans as to the form of government:
to be vouchsafed to Hawaii, leaving that
question to be entirely disposed of By
the government of the United States
1he United States will agree. however
to assume the debt of the present Hawi-
ian government, but will come into DOS
session of all the Hawaiian crown lands
and other possessions.
Several Senators have received definite
the treaty and are well acquainted with
Its terms, though they refuse to discuss
the matter, having received the informa-
ton in confidence. The knowledge of the
existence of the treaty has been com
municated to members of the Committee
on Foreign Relations and also to men,
bers of the Finance committee. In the
Republican caucuses the subject of the
treaty had been limited at but in rather
n vague manner. Senators asserted that
there were in progress negotiations look
ing to annexation, but they would not
aver that they knew a treaty had beeR
drawn. nor would they give any assur-
ances that it would soon be sent to the
Senate. In private conversation with
other Senators, however they gave in
formation that was definite enough to
satisfy those with whom they talked, that
the treaty was not only to be sent in, but
that it was now already drawn and only
awaiting the signatures of the officers of
the two governments to complete it. It
is known that the approval of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations is assured,
as eight members of the committee have
approved its terms. This will enable the
to the Senate so that it may he taken
up Immediately after the tariff bill is
disposed of.
The Senate has been canvasSed to s.
ctrtain extent by Senators favoring an
nexation, and while there are some Sena-
tors who are on-committal, the support
ers of the proposition say they believe
that they can count upon the two-thirds
vote necessary to insure ratifca zion.
The especial friends of the President
about the Senate say that the treaty has
been made in accordance with his views
and that it would have been sent in
some time ago but for his exactions az
to details.
The present condition in Hawaii, it
Is said, has had much to do with favor
able consideration of the treaty of an-
neXatiOn. The present government of
Hawaii and the people who support it
are very much concerned about the
japanese situation. Private information
received by Hawaiians in this city is to-
the effect that the japanese at any time
may take some action looking to acqui-
sition of the island. The advices official
ly received are of much the same tenor
The sentiment in the Senate seems to be
that Japan in no way should control the
islands or get a foot hold there. This
argument has been used to prevent even
notice of abrogation of the present treaty
in the tariff bill 1t is said that such no.
tice might be followed by japanese oe--
cupation and the islands could not be
regained by the United States without a
struggle. In this connection it is learn
ed that he conversations among the most
prominent Japanese residents of Ha-
waii which have been reported to the
representatives of the islands in Wash.
ington have been of a threatening char
acter, and that the American residents
have more concern than has been shown
in the published accounts.
The officials at the State department
steadfastly refuse to make any state.
ment as to the negotiation of a treaty
providing for the annexation OF Hawaii
and at the Hawaiian legation the sIue
silence is observed. However. II -
known that the treaty, though not vet
signed is drawn up, ready for signature
and as the President is fully aware of IT'S
scope, there is no reason to doabt fbo4
he will authorize its signature. in 1bis
case 1T is expected that the document
will be sent to the Senate for its action
very soon, even within week. it IS said
in some well informed quarters. If This
be the case it may be taken for granted
that the President has taken steps to as
sure himself of a favorable reception
for the treaty in the Senate and to guaid
against such mishap as befell the arbi-
ration treaty.