New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-16
JOHN ". FOSTER ON WAII.
A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR ANNEXATION
OF THE ISLANDS
NEED OF PEARL HARBoR AS CoAIING AND
NAVAL srATIoN-HB THINKS HAWAII WILL
TURN TO ENGLAND IF REJECTED By

NAVAL srATIoN-HB THINKS HAWAII WILL
TURN TO ENGLAND IF REJECTED By
THE UNITED STATES.
Washington. Dec. 15.-John w. Foster, who.
while Secretary OF State in the Harrison Cabl-
net, negotiated the first treaty annexing Hawaii
to the United States and who has since visited
the islands and taken much interest In their
acquisition when asked to-day to the status
OF the annexation question. said:
The opponents In Congress OF Hawaiian an
nexation will not have disposed OF the question
by voting against and defeating this measure
They must decide what shall be the policy ana
conduct Of the United States toward the islands
for the future. Having refused the application
Of the island Government for incorporation into
our Union such an act necessarily carries with
1t the right of the former to determine Its own
political destiny. unnfuenced by considerations
affecting the United States
But such course would present embarrass-
ments TO Congress OF no small moment During
the last Administration OF President CleVeiaho
the House Of Representatives resolved that for-
eign intervention In the political analrs OK the
islands will not be regarded with indifference
by the Government OF the United States. Dur
ing the same session the Senate. by unanimous
vote, went a step further and declared that
any intervention in the political affairs or these
islands by any Government will he regarded as
an act unfrendly to the United States These
utterances were In line with the policy OF our
Government for half century. but 1t Is pos
sible and competent for Congress TO change the
policy OF the Government at any time. It's re-
lection Of annexation would in effect nullify the
declarations cited but there would still be an
other serious embarrassment to be disposed or
to wit the reciprocity treaty 1t would be easy
to annul the commercial clauses OF that conven-
ton and that would he In harmony with the
views long cherished by many Of our public
men. but the political clauses OF that treaty
present a different question. They are two In
number:
IMPORTANCE OF PEARL HARBoR
First. a stipulation on the part OF Hawaii
not to lease. dispose Of or create any Hen upon
any port. harbor or other territory to any other
Government: and. second. 10 grant to the United
States the exclusive right to Pearl River mar
bor a coaIing and naval station. Inc hTst OF
these political clauses might terminate with the
treaty and after the rejection Of annexation u
would be inconsistent on our part to Insist upon
its maintenance. The second clause, however
is held by the Senators who ratified the treaty
N he n permanent grant The denunciation of
the reciprocity treaty would still leave us with
the grant OF Pearl Harbor. 1t IS the only place
suitable for a naval station in those Islands or
anywhere within a radius Of two thousand miles
Whatever may be the sentiment OF the AInerl-
can people 10 annexation DOUBT "he'I'e'
any considerable body OF them would approve
OF the surrender OF this very valuable STATION
for our growing Navy. and for which we nave
paid so dear a price IN our reciprocity arrange
ment And yet with the rejection of annexa-
ton we must look forward to the certainty OF
AttrH ID
be irnpossible with the Islands under the domln-
ion OF a powerful Government -,
Even II rejected By the United states u WIN
NOT he difficult for the present Hawaiian Cow
ernment successfully 10 Thirtain itselt as
against local opposition For many years before
IL was established. the administration OF me ISL
auds had been In the control OF the fore1sn
residents the native rulers being mere puppets
in their hands The property Interests. whch
are almost exclusively held by the whitc resi-
dents ano foreigners. VIII control the Govern
mont SO long as II maintains It's independence.
But 1t Is plain tho Islands cannot long maintain
their autonomy. The most threatening pteseh.
danger is from Japan. That country may ne
nerfectly sincere I'm its declaration that II does
not seek the annexation of the Islands. but the
current OF events, II not checked VIII leap IN IN,
evitaby TO that result The operation OF the
existing immigration treaty as interpreter py
japan Will soon bring about the supremacy OF
the Japanese In the Islands The authorities ot
the RepublIc and the Empire are now at issue
ns 10 this treaty. II requires no prophet 20 Iote-
see which construction ~ It viii prevail. n the
islands not annexed 10 lHF tI'''i '''"NN"
or some other Power does not intervene
ENGLAND READY TO TAKE THEM
But I do not think the islands will pass un-
der the dominion Of Japan. II the people or
American origin now In control OF the Govern
rnent are rejected by Congress. they WILL In
my opinion, turn to their klnsmen. the English
and Canadians. They have learned from the
colonial history Of Great Britain that wherever
the British flag goes there follow equal taxation.
tust and impartial administration OF the laws.
and honest and orderly government While |
have no information AS to the purpose OF the
present Hawaiian rulers. feel sure that when
II ia finally determined that they are not TO be
annexed 10 the United States they Will lose no
time in opening negotiations with Great Britain.
and the result of those negotiations VIII De
neither slow nor uncertain.
"Mr Seward, OF the most r-SlGhtcd or
our statesmen, declared in the Senate half n
century ago: The Pacific Ocean. its shores its
islands and the vast regions beyond, VIII be
come the chief theatre OF events In the world
great hereafter Possessed with this Idea, he
brought into our Union the vast outlying terri
tory OF Alaska and sought the annexation or
Hawaii. but the time was not then propltlous.
His prophecy is becoming a reality to-day III me
wonderful development Of the commerce OF the
Pacific The opportunity which ne sought IN
order 10 give our country supremacy In this
vast trade will be thrown away and transferred
TO our greatest rival II we reject annexation
now"
CLEPGYNAN SENT TO JAIL.