The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-02
COUNT 0KUMA'S LAST LETTER
Is Japan Honest in Her Proposition
for Arbitration
Japan Claims the Favored Nation Clause, and Denies
the Right of Hawaii to Question Possession
cf $50 in Cash by Immigrants.

A complete copy of Count Okuma's
note accepting arbitration upon cer-
tain conditions as well as the answer
of Minister of Foreign Affairs Cooper,
to the Toxic Government,
by the Peru yesterday, was given out
at the Foreign Department this morn
ing.
The Japanese government does not
consider that the bona fide possession
of $50 by each immigrant can be ques-
toned, and considers that article of
the treaty of 1871 comes under the
head of the most favored nation clause
and upon that claims the right allow
ed to Spain by the treaty of October
8, 1863.
The Hawaiian Government refuses
to accept the proposals of the Japa-
nese Government until it defines what
questions are to be submitted to the
arbitration and distinctly repudiates
the contention that the sentence in ar
ticle 4 of the treaty of 1871 grants
most favored nation clause.
Count Okuma's letter, written in To-
kio, on August 4th, and delivered to
Minister Cooper through Japanese
Minister Shimamura, on August 10th,
is introduced as follows:
SHIMAMURA'S NOTE.
Honolulu, August 16, 1897.
Sir: In accordance with the in
structions of Count Okuma, His Impe-
rial japanese Majesty's Minister for
Foreign Affairs, l have the honor to
communicate a copy of his instruc-
tions addressed to me under the date
of August 4th as the reply of the Inn
perial Government to the suggestions
contained in your note of June 2Ssh.
You will agree with me that this
matter is of such Importance and con-
cern from every point of view, that 1
reply.
have the honor to be, Sir, your most
obedient servant,
(Sig.) "H. SHIMAMURA,
"H. I. j. Ms Minister Resident.
"Mr. Henry E. Cooper, Minister of
Foreign Affairs"
COUNT OKUMA'S DISPATCH.
''The Guaimusho, Toxic, the 4th day
of the Sth month of the 30th year Of
Meii.
III. Shimamura, Esqr., III. |. j. Nj. s
Minister Resident, Hawaii.
Sir: | received on the evening of
the 18th ultimo, your telegram an
nouncing that the Hawaiian Minister
of Foreign Affairs had, in writing,
suggested to you that the differences
l.+ f., ;,, n,,l
to the rejected immigrants, be :efcrr-
ed for settlement to disintere SD ar-
bitration.
by the mail which reached this city
on the 10th ultimo, per the S. S. City
of Rio de Janeiro, | also received from
you a copy of the communication from
Mr.. Cooper, to which your telegram
had reference.
'The Imperial Government are firm
ly convinced that their complaints in
the matter are well founded and that
their demands are just and reasona ,le
Nevertheless, in spirit of concllia-
ton and in the hope that their action
may contribute to the good relations
of the two countries, they have resolv-
ed to accept, subject to certain nee
essary limitations and qualifications
the proposal of the Government OF
Hawaii.
"Accordingly on the 2Sth ultimo,
telegraphed you to the effect that the
Japanese Government accepted n
principle the suggestion of the Hawa-
iian Government for arbitration and
that the terms and conditions of such
acceptance would follow by mail.
Il now confirm that telegram and
the object of this instruction is to cX
plain the nature of the terms and the
conditions, an adhesion to which is
in the estimation of the Imperial Gov
ernment essential to a satisfactory is
sue of the contemplated arbitration.
"The reasons assigned blythe Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs of Hawaii, il
favor of arbitration, make il also de
sirable that the award when pro
nounced, shall be of the highest ant
most commanding character. Conse
,quently the Imperial Government
proposes that the two Government
shall, when the proper time arrives
unite in requesting His Majesty, tn,
King of the Belgians, may be pleased
to accept the position of sole arbitra
tor.
"The Imperial Government ar,
moreover persuaded of the desirable
ity of expressly defining the scope o
the reference. not only i'm order t.
Tighten the labors of the arbitrator
but with the view as well, that tn,
decision may address itself solely t.
the actual points of divergence. They
therefore. propose that the two Gov
ernments shall agree to the essentia
facts of the case and that the arbitra
ton shall be limited to specified ques
tions of law and lin case the award i
in favor of Japan) the measure of tn
d"mages suffered by the subjects o
His Imperial Majesty. IT is due t.
frlnkness. that I should, in this con
noction, state that for. reasons whicl
are fully set forth in another Instruc
t;o,, tha I,,narial CaUarpp,ant onnnn