The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-16
The Treaty Between the United
States Government
And the Hawaiian Republic
Ready for Ratification.
JAPAN FILES PROTEST
But the Business Proceeds
Without Interruption.
Only the Approval of the Sen
ate is Now Lacking.

washington. June 16.-In the great dip
lomatic room of the state department
where four years and four months ago in
the closing hours of the Harrison admin
istration the first Hawaiian annexation
treaty was signed. only to be withdrawn
from the senate and thrown into a pigeon
hole. the representatives of the govern
nents of the United States and Hawaii
gathered this morning and signed
treaty by the terms of which, if ratified,
the little island republic will become part
of the territory of the United States. OF
the persons who stood in the room today
three were present when the original
treaty was signed, namely Special Com
missioner Lorrin A. Thurston and AS
sistant Secretaries Adee and Cridler.
1t is a very unusual thing for treaty
of such Importance to be signed early in
the morning. but in this case it was de-
sired that the convention be made ready
early in order that it might be submitted
to the senate on the day of its signature.
The document itself had been prepared
carefully over night, in fact it was prac-
tically completed at the close of official
hours yesterday, but it was necessary to
make a close comparison and the presi-
dent wished another opportunity to go
over the document probably with view
TO drawing up a message with which it
viii be accompanied to the senate. There
fore before O'Clock the persons who
We're concerned in the preparation of the
treaty We're at the state department. For
the United States there were Secretary
Sherman, Assistant Secretaries Day,
Adee and Cridler, Private Secretary Bah
cock and Assistant Private Secretary
Gay Tree.
On the Hawaiian side were Minister
Hatch, Lorrin A. Thurston and w. A.
Kinney. all for this particular occasion.
accredited as special commissioners. duly
empowered TO negotiate a treaty of an
nexation.
After the formal greetings. the creden-
tials of the plenipotentiaries We're scan
ned and recorded. Secretary Sherman
alone represented the United States in the
signatures of the convention and it was
part of the ceremony to record his athor-
izatiOn by the president, just as much
it was the credentials of the Hawaifans
from President Dole. Then came the
reading and comparison of the treaty. Of
this there were two drafts. one to be held
by each, later on to be exchanged in the
usual form. Altogether it was twenty
minutes after O'Clock when all was
ready for the signatures. The Hawaiian
representatives had brought with them a
gold pen in plain holder and at their
request this was used for all of the sig
natures.
Secretary Sherman signed first the copy
intended to be held here while Minister
Hatch signed first the Hawaiian copy of
the treaty his fellow commissioners COM
ing next in order. Mr.. Thurston first, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Kinney. The treaties were
sealed by Assistant Secretary CridIer
with a private seal carried on his watch
chain The copies were handed to their
respective custodians and the treaty was
made as far as the executive branch of
the government could effect it. There
was general exchange of congratula-
tions between the parties to the ceremony
and after photograph had been taken of
the commissioners, the ceremony was
ended.
Before the final signature of the docu-
ment the secretary of state was present
ed a formal protest by the japanese gov
ernment through its legation here against
the cOnsumma ton of the agreement. The
protest is understood to be based on ap-
prehension that the special treaties now
existing between Japan and under which
the japanese enjoy advantages will be af-
fected injuriOusly by complete annexa-
ton.
The treaty provides that the govern
ment of the Hawaiian islands cede to the
United States absolutely and forever all
rights of sovereignty in and over the
Hawaiian islands and its dependencies
and that these islands shall become on in
tegral part of the territory of the United
States The government of Hawaii also
cedes to the United States all public
lands, public buildings and public prop
erty of every description. Congress shall
enact special laws to govern the dfspo-
sitiOn of the lands in the Hawaiian is
lands All the revenue from these lands
shall be used solely for the benefit of the
inhabitants of the Hawaiian islands for
educational and other public purposes
The Hawaiian islands shall be admitted
into the Union as a territory of the Uni
ted States. local laws to be passed by
local legislature. but subject to the ap-
proval OF the president; until congress
shall apply the laws of the United States
to the islands the present laws of IIa-
waii are to govern the islands.
The present treaties and laws govern
ing Hawaii's commercial relations with
foreign nations shall remain in force un-
til congress shall take action. Further
hibited pending congressional action and
the entry of Chinese from Hawaii into the
United States is likewise prohibited. The
United States assumes the public debt of
Hawaii. but with a stipulation that this
liability shall not exceed S4.OOOOOO.
The treaty before it becomes effective
shall be ratified by the proper authorities
Of the United States and of Hawaii. No