Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-25
THE SITUATION
That Exists in Hawaii As Seen
by a Journal Correspondent.
Relations with Japan Are Strained and
Call for Our Aid.
II Japan Docs nj Intend 10 Seize the ISLANDS
She Expects 10 People Them.


immigration matter Is u direct bid Tor
the protection of the United States. or,
perhaps, to put it better, the tenor of the
note is such as to force the hand OF the
United States in it's relations with the
Hawaiian islands.
The wisdom of the government mere
in dealing with this japanese alaif IN
the peremptory manner characteflZlnB
its action thus far is commented gu
yariously by the white citizens OF the
country The sentiment of these peo-
pIe IL unanimous that something should
be done to cut down japanese imnigrd-
ton: the little brown men" are Hood
ing the country, and II they were sup
piled with arms could make this "A Jap
anese republic in about forty-eight
hours There are conservatives. now
ever who are confident the minister ol
foreign affairs might have accomplished
The shutting down on japanese inini~
grafton without ali this buster ana
blacv that may cost the country pretty
penny, stir up the jingo spirit OF Japan
aud In the end leave the country In &
more disagreeable position than 1t was
in in the first place. The conservative
Of the United States standing by Hawaii
to the extent Of giving Japan To under
stand that it must keep its hands of
the country. and they do not believe
the statesmen OF the United States VIII
take up the quarrels Of Hawaii when
the latter has played the role Of a child
In other words the question OF Ha-
waits action IL purely legal one ANA
must be settled on that basis. Hawaii
cannot fight and most certainly neither
the United States or Japan can afford
TO jeopardize national friendship. 10 say
nothing Of a growing commerce. for tho
sake Of Hawaifs refusal TO pay an in
dcmnity for having recklessly butted
it's head against principles OF interna-
tional law.
As the matter now stands Hawaii
hangs rs cause to the validity Of
contract Hawaii has laws creating an
Immigration Bureau whose work is IN
look after the immigration OF contract
labor. Plantation managers desiring
laborers file their applications with
the bureau II he applications are ac-
ceptod by the bureau the orders are
sent forward to Japan or China for the
men. All contract laborers are sun
posed to come under the auspices OF
this bureau. 1t is practically an arm
of the government put out to assist III
sugar planters. All persons not com
ing % the country under this bureau
are required ia prove themselves bona
fide possessors Of $50 United States
gold. During the last two or three years
hundreds of Japanese have been com
ing 10 the country as free labOrers,
t. C.. having $50 in their possession.
The Japanese rejected Ivy the minister
Of foreign affairs had $50 in their pcs
session also memorandum contracts
with japanese immigration companies
These documents set forth that in con-
sidsratian Of the immigrant paying the
fee of ten yen--equal to about 50 IN
American moucy-the company would
land him in Hawaii and secure work
for him. 1t is also we'll worth noting
that the Japanese government require=
the immigration companies To give
bond that any Japanese Immigrant
who falls sick or is destitute in a for
eign country will he returned to his
home at the expense of the company
The japanese government keeps =
strick watch over it's subjects and every
immigrant leaving the country has =
show the officers of his government
that he has complied with the law II
the country to which he is bound,
In dealing with the laborers recently
arrived. the Hawaiian government has
taken the position that the laborers
holding contracts with the immigration
companies come under the head Of
90.
should have been submitted
to the Board of immigration for ac-
ceptance. In consequence of the COM
pany's failure tn do this the men We're
sent back. The fact that the men had
$50 is not taken into consideration. The |
men having $50 and no memorandum |
contracts We're allowed to land.
The Japanese take the ground that |
the action of Hawaii was arbitrary ana
not in accordance With the treaty. The |
Hawaiian government maintains that |
its ruling was one it had a right tol
make. as every sovereign state has a |
right to establish immigration and po- |
lice regulations and interpret such regu |
lations according to its own ideas. Ha
wall refuses to retract, refuses to rec
ognize the principle of indemnity ana |
refuses to give assurance that the same |
thing will not occur again. Its position |
is plucky to say the least. but whether |
well advised is a question on which |
local opinion differs. The japanese
minister in conversation with me last |
night said; If the Hawaiian govern
ment had notified the Japanese govern
ment that more Immigrants were COM
ing from Japan than the best interests |
of the country demanded l believe my |
superiors would have given the mat
ter serious consideration and reached
a friendly understanding. But this
arbitrary action attacks the honor of
the nation. Japan must protect the rights
of it's citizens wherever they may be- In
all countries with which we have treaty
relations we will see to it that our peo-
pie are not Disseminated against.
Japan does not want to annex the
Hawaiian islands. The Japanese govern
ment is not interested in the colonization
of Hawaii 1t is simply looking after the
interests of 20000 of its people who We're
brought to this country at the urgent re-
quest of the Hawaiian government.
When my country wants to COLOMBO, IL
sends its rich men to buy up lands and
carry on business. 1t doesn't send cooiie
al he