The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-28

June 27.-The Japan
ese position on the annexation of Ha-
waii by the United States has been
made known from a very high source.
The Japanese base their opposition to
annexation almost entirely upon the
ground that it is an interference with
the treaty rights of Japan, and COM
plain especially that the treaty was
negotiated in the face of the most
friendly protestations from Japan, and
at time when the Japanese authori-
ties had been led to believe that no
such treaty would be undertaken. The
following may be accepted as an alb
sOlutely accurate outline of the posi-
tion Of the Japanese legation in Wash
ington:
The Japanese insist, as on all former
occasions, that the japanese govern
ment has not now and never has had
any designs against Hawaii. This they
consider a most important point be-
cause of the talk about colonization,
which they say has apparently had so
much weight in the discussion of the
question.
They contend that the japanese first
went to Hawaii in response to the de-
mand for labor in the island under pro-
visions Of treaty concluded in 1885 at
the solicitations Of the Hawaiian gov
ernment. They call attention to the
fact that the Japanese government
has always been averse to having
their people go abroad as coolies" as
the Chinese do, and that the govern
ment has always striVen to prevent
such emigration. AS a consequence
the Hawaiian treaty was SO worded as
to prevent even the suspicion Of any
thing like coolie labor. The interests
Of all parties were, they say, protect
ed, and as consequence the Hawaiian
planters secured a high class of agri-
cultural labor upon fair terms and
under circumstances that did not give
the least occasion for the dislike and
Opprobrium which generally attach to
contract labor. This treaty, they say,
worked admirably for years, and until
the planters became reStiVe under the
conditions imposed by the treaty think
ing, the Japanese hold, that they could
secure labor more cheaply with the
restrictions removed.
At the same time the question Of an
neXation comes up and the adherents
of union with the United States
thought it would be necessary to make
changes in the method Of obtaining the
labor absolutely necessary w the pros
perity Of the sugar industry Of the ISL
andS. This was, they claim, the ORR
gin of the so-called voluntary" sys-
tenn of immigration to Hawaii.
The development of this situation led
to the framing by the Japanese gov
ernment Of it's emigration law. They
assert that Hawaii took no steps to re-
strict immigration from Japan until last
February, when a sudden and surprs-
Ing demand was made upon Japan to
this end. This, they claimed, was evil
dence sufficient that there was no food
ing of the island. They regarded this
demand from the island government as
capricious and concluded that it was
made for the purpose of increasing the
agitation in the interest of annexation
and to furnish preteXt for speedy
action in that direction.
They complained Of the suddenness
of the announcement of the Hawaiian
treaty Of annexation and say that the
| treaty was cOnsummated when they had
| reason from official assurances for be-
| HeVlng that no haSty action in that
| direction was contemplated. They con-
| slider that many subjects of Japan are
entitled to damages on account of
| HaWaii's summary refusal to permit
GNU 'AS"' |lt0y Oh Z uSpllV-
! ed of their remedy by the consumma-
! ton Of this treaty. On this account
they are inclined to regard the action as
unjust and arbitrary. They also hold
that Japan has rights under treaties
with Hawaii other than those detailed,
! including reciprocal immunities which
| they fear may not be renewed If
| Hawaii becomes part Of the United
! States. The present purpose, they
hold, appears to be to terminate these
rights without privilege Of appeal, and
against this proceedig they protest
! They hold that while Japan has no
purpose of asserting any authority in
| Hawaii the Japanese government has
! the right to demonstrate in the interest
! of her citizens and to demand that
their legitimate rights be respected.