The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-18
Gossip ait
the Capital
Special Correspondence of The Tribune.

Washington, June II.
According to Walter Wellman, inter-
national considerations of the highest i'm
portance induced the president to send the
Hawaiian treaty to congress sooner than
had been expected. Until recently 1t had
not been supposed the president would
send the Hawaiian treaty to congress I'LL
next winter. But two very important
considerations led to a change of this
programme. In the first pace, 1t was nee
essary to avoid a defeat of the tariff bill,
which was jeoparded by the wranglins
over the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty
Secondly Spain has for some time been
trying to induce Japan to make a bold
stand against Hawaii, The Spanish gov
ernment has during the last six months
sounded every government In Europe as
to the chances of support Of q diplomatic
order in case of Intervention by the
United States between Spain and Cuba.
No encouragement has been found, ex-
eepting, perhaps, warm expressions on
friendship from Austria-Hungary. There
is not a nation in Europe that would
care to exchange the friendship of the
United States for that of Spain.
The Madrid government appeared to be
at the end of it's string in the search for
support, when the disturbance between
Japan and the little island republic of
Hawaii came to the surface. Information
OIL u ITuSIWOTlny mas IEdCI6ll
the state department that the Spanish
minister in Japan has encouraged the
Japanese in making a bold stand against
Hawaii, holding out as an inducement
that the United States was not to be
feared, as the chances were that Spain
would give the United States enough
trouble on the Atlantic to keep Uncle
Sans finfer out Of the Hawaiian pie.
No one supposes that Japan would de-
liberately seek to annex Hawaii at the
risk of war with the United States, or
that the japanese woud exchange their
present friendly relations with the
United States for an alliance with Spain.
That was not the game. On Spain's part
the effort was to bring about a threaten
ing state of affairs in Hawaii, which might
deter the United States from proceeding
with much vigor in the direction of Cuba.
Spain's theory was that the United States
would conclude one trouble at a time
was enough, and II trouble menaced on
the west would be likely to go much
sloWre toward trouble In the east.
Spain's game was easy enough for ey.
eryone to understand, and the Japs did
not mistake it. While Spain was try
ing to use ambitious Japan to pull Cuban
chestnuts out of the fire, the willy Japan
ese had fish of their own to fry. Under
cover of possible trouble between Spain
and the United States it was their pro
gramme to secure from Hawaii satisfac-
tion for the alleged violation OF theil
treaty with island republic.
It Is not believed in Washington thai
Japan has any serious intention to an
mex Hawaii. Considering that 1t Is wei
| known to be the traditional policy of this
government to permit no transfer of Ha'
wall to any other power 1t Is inconceiy,
able that the Japanese ambition could
run so far as to come into collision witt
| the United States. But there Is no GER
| tainty on this score.
| AS long as Japan had to deal with Ha'
wall alone, and Hawaii as an Independent
government was responsible to other ma
| tions for its conduct and its treaty COM
pacts, a situation might easily be bull
up in which Japan would be nominallS
justified In making war upon the Pacific
| republic. Threats of this nature have al
ready been made by the japanese minis
ter at Honolulu.
If Japan were to make war upon Hawai-
| of course the result could be easily fore
| told. Hawaii would be at the mercy oi
the Japs AS the victor Japan might de
mand cesson of the Islands or part pI
| them, and England or Russia might ther
] take a hand and give diplomatic suppor
| to the justice Of her contention.
| The Hawaiian minister here has supplied
| the state department with some impoTtan
| information concerning the policy o.
| Japan. The japanese are exceedingly ag
gressVe, almost imperative. They hay'
/ virtually held over Hawaii the menaci
of war II their demands be not compiled
| with. That the present situation Is on
/ OF danger to the future of Hawaii and o.
possible danger to the peaceful relations
existing between the United States anC
Japan has been recognized at the stat
| department.
Before these affairs reached their pres
ent critical state President Mckinley hat
decided upon the annexation Of Hawai-
| as a part of his administrative policy
but had thought to defer action till mex
| winter. Epains Vaccinations with Japal
| enoe upon the course which the Asiati
nation has pursued toward Hawaii, bu
| under the circumstances II was though
10 be the part Of prudence for the Unite'
| States to give notice to the world as sool
as possible that Hawaii is soon to becom
| part OF the United States, and tina
/ therefore any aggressive policy towar'
| the httle republic Is really an aggression
in the end, upon the United States,
Now that the traditional policy Of tn
United States never 10 seek territory be
| yond the sea is about TO be broken dow
by the force OF circumstances, II will no
be a long step TO similar action In refer
enes 10 Cuba, HaWeii 10 a.00O miles froH
the United States, Cube Ninety miles
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