The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-28
GRAVE COMPLICATIONS.
Powers Will Protest il Hawaii Does Not
Remain Neutral.


New York, May IA dispatch to
the Herald from Washington says:
Grave foreign complications may grow
out of the action of the Hawaiian gov
ernment in allowing the United states
to make Honolulu base OF supplies
and naval operations in the Paclnc.
Your correspondent is informed on the
highest authority that two European
governments, France and Germany,
through their consular representatives.
in Honolulu, have taken action which
is construed to indicate their displeas-
ure at the course of Hawaii. They
have not entered any formal protest,
but have inquired of the Hawaiian gov
eminent what it's attitude would be
during the war.
What reply. IL any, the Hawaiian
government made to this inquiry lis not
yet known at Washington. 1t Is
known. however, that the government
i'm the islands will not maintain neu-
trality, but will allow the United
States to use its territory and harbor
at Honolulu as freely as If they were
part of the United States. BY so doing
the Hawaiian government assumes the
position of being practically an ally of
the rnited States and takes upon itself
responsibility for this attitude. The
Spanish consul in Honolulu still main
tains his relations with President
Dole's government but when the cruis
er Charleston and the transports
bound for Manila take on coal and
provisions at Honolulu. IL is believed
he will protest emphatically against IT,
and upon his protest being disregard
ed, will sever his connections with
the government and demand his pass
ports.
President Mckinley realizes that if
the Spanish consul should be Joined in
his protest by the representatives of
other European governments, there
1a fafllt AT
those nations, and for this reason the
president is more than anxious that
congress should lose no time in form
ally annexing the islands to the United
States so as to give Spain and the other
nations of Europe no ground on which
to base their protest.
President Mckinley has been strong
ly urged to take possession of the ISL
ands as "A military necessity, and II
congress was not in session IL IL prob
able he would do so. He is reluctant
to take any such action. however. while
congress is in session. and while the
question of annexation is pending in
that body.
The military necessity exists, how
ever. and the administration will avail
itself of provisions granted by the isl.
ands to use them as military and
naval base. There is no escape from
doing so, in fact. and but for the facil-
tiles for coaling and provisioning the
vessels and the transports at Honolulu.
the administration would be practically
compelled to abandon the Philippines
and call Rear Admiral Dewey home,
regardless of the fact that by so do
ing IL would leave a condition of al
fairs in the Orient that would be prac-
tically certain to bring on a European
war.
broken. Rear Admiral Dewey and his
fleet represent the supreme authority
there now. Should they be Withdrawn,
a condition Of affairs would exist
which would lead 10 the landing of
forces by the warships of European
powers. Clashes of authority would
ensue and a conflict might break out
which would involve all Europe.
This being the case. the administra-
tion must reinforce Rear Admiral
Dewey. and in doing so the Hawaiian
islands must be used as a base of sup
plies. Some of the presidents military
advisers-among them. IL is said Lieu
tenant General John NJ. Schofield. re-
tired-have urged that he should go a
step further and should hurry out a
the smaller vessels, which could not
make the longer trip between Homo
lulu and Manila, so that upon the re-
| turn of the first transports from Ma
nila to Honolulu. they would carry out
second detachments Of men without re-
| turning all the way to San Francisco.
| thus saving about three weeks of the
| round trip.
This plan would be adopted without
| doubt II the islands had already been
| annexed, and the desirability of its
| adoption is being strongly urged on
congress as an argument for immediate
| action.
Opponents of annexation in congress
have been able thus far to preven: any
| action, and they are confident they will
be able to force an adjournment. leav-
/ ing the matter still hung up. although
there is a substantial majority for an
| nexation in each house.
Speaker Reed still persists in his op-
| position and will not make any prom
\ ises as To when he viii allow the reso-
Init 90. mr. "a hs1fhar hra will