The times., 1898-04-29
HAWAII SHOULD Be ANNEXED
OF Commanding Strategic In
p0rianee Just Now.
LIKELY TO BE sEIZED By US
Possession of the Islands Would
Shorten the Distance Between Our
asintic Squadron and Its Base OF
Supplies by 2,39o Miles - Suhjecf
Revived In the Senate

Ihe possible naval necessities that NAV
confront the United States In the Pacific
Ocean If the war with Spain is prolonged
mas revived the proposition to annex the
Hawaiian Islands. and that subject has
been under very careful consideration By
the President and some OF the leading
members of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations. and few Of the
prominent naval officers who are on
terms of personal intimacy with the Pres
ident Chairman Davis. of the commit
tee, Senator Lodge, of the Republicans.
and Senator Morgan. of the Democrats.
have been sounding the sentiment OF the
Senate within the past few days, but they
do not find that the new condition OF al
fairs has caused any change in the views
OF senator's, who, before the war with
Spain broke out. We're opposed to annex
alton For this reason the committee has
about abandoned the idea of again press
ing the proposition 10 a vote in the Sen
ate,
1t is known. however. that the President
is seriously contemplating seizing the ISL
ands as military necessity for the pro-
lection of the Islands themselves and for
the protection Of American interests
which are paramount 10 any other on tn.
islands. This seizure would be a seizure
in name only. for Ii is understood that ar
rangements have been made with the
little republic so that the United States
may take possession and run up the
Stars and Stripes whenever. in the judg-
ment of the Administration. such action
is necessary. This seizure is said 10 be
intended 10 be of temporary nature only
but it is understood that if once the Stars
and Stripes are run over the islands under
any pretext they will not again be hauled
down. as they were when Minister Stew
ems run them up at the time OF the insur-
rectiOn against the queen. and was com
PEELED to take them down at the order OF
Mr. Cleveland
The probable taking possession Of these
islands has been under consideration by
the committee. and the President has
been advised to take this action and TO
act promptly. Under the strict neutrality
proclamations of Great Britain and China
the ports on the Asiatic coasts where the
feet of Commodore Dewey have been Sc
curing coal are now closed 10 those ships
and between Hong Kong and San Fran
cisco there are only two possible places
where that commander can repleBash his
supply when it shall be exhausted He
must either take Manila or some other
port of the Philippines, which Is -guite
probable. or ne must land at Honolulu
In the event that Commodore Dewey
should meet with reverses at Manila or
the fight should be prolonged. he may be
compelled to come nearer home II Ha-
wall maintains its independence as a gov
eFnment il will be required TO remain
neutral and this would keep our ships
out of its harbOr-
The United States now has about 1900
tons of coal near Pearl Harbor- 1t has
maintained two ships of war in and
around that city for years to protect the
islands and American interests. The isl
ands, commercially, belong TO the United
States, and 10 be forced away from them
at this critical juncture would be more
than a hardship; it might result in disas-
ter. For this reason there is good ground
10 believe the President VIII listen TO the
advice that has been given him and wiz
take possession OF the islands within the
next few days.
BY doing so their neutrality will not be
feared, and as American possessions they
can be defended as easily as they have
been protected for several years As
base of operations the distance between
the Philippines and the United States will
be shortened by 3.200 miles. and as
strategic point, the coast of the mainland
can be defended as easily from those isl
ands as from San Francisco itself These
are the arguments Senators Davis, Nor
gan and Lodge have brought TO bear upon
the President, and those who are well IN
formed believe the President has acted
upon them and has already communicated
with our minister at Honolulu and the
American admiral in command there and
given them instructions just what TO do
under certain contingencies.