New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-05
ANNEXATION TO BE PUSHED
,r NOT BY TREATY. THEN BY LEGIs-
LATION.

,ryr HAWAIIAN observation-disclosures
MELVILLE ON THE STRATEGIC IN
PoRTANCE OF THE ISLANDS.
rpy rrrropArH TO rRIBuNH.l
u,so,neton. March 4-The Senate Committee
p,ore,sn Relations when 1t meets tomorrow
,orninr will be called on to put an end TO the
,,cv Of hesitation and delay so far followed at
VT sesslon in dealing with the Hawaiian an
,st,on project For three months the con-
vsotion Of annexation negotiated last summer
-, the Administration has been pending IN the
,reaty-maAing branch Of Congress, and ratinca-
,,on seems as impossible Of accomplishment
ou, as II did when Congress resumed It's SIT
,ngs in December.
other questions OF international moment have
recently obscured the Importance Of prompt ana
favorable action on the Administration PROV
COT for the absorption of the Hawaiian Islands;
70, II is apparent to the friends OF the conVen-
ton in the Senate that some steps must De
,vs, n, once 10 carry out the Presidents policy
- the impetus Of public sentiment in favor OF
annexation Is not to be materially lessened or
practically lost The advocates of ratincauoh
IN the Senate realize that they lack from 1our
10 six votes OF the constitutional two-thiros
majority required TO make the convention piho-
ing They are somewhat disposed, therefore, 10
question the advsability OF forcing division on
the treaty as defeat on rollcan seems new
table
Mr.. Davis the chairman OF the Foreign ne
,st,ons Committee who has the treaty in charge.
has taken the ground for some time past that no
harm could come from delay and that the con-
vention would gain rather than lose IN strength
from q postponement of the final vote On 'he
other hand other earnest advocates or haWalian
annexation on the committee have contenoea
that II was only waste of time ana eiioit ~
continue the fight in favor Of the conVehtioi
the true policy being 10 abandon the treaty anu
., nush 10 the front a bill for the acquisition
~ Hawaii and it's organization as an m'esrai
portion of the territory of the Union
7-hat the latter programme will ultimately be
,.op,ed is the belief Of the great majority OF
those who support annexation. but that 1t VIII
be accepted without qualification at to-moiIo"
-oaat,ng of tho Foreign Relations Committee is
perhaps not certain. A prominent memper Oh
tho committee when asked this afternoon "ha'
course would probably be taken, SAID that ne
could not tell whether certain amendments
would be made TO the text or the treat! anu "
test of strength then invited or Whether '",
convention would be abandoned outright anu
annexation attempted by legislation But """'
a,.ar course were preferred. to-moTow's discus
s,o, would probably end the inaction OF 'he 'as'
,vo months and bring the project of annexation
. ~ front again as one of the most urgent ana
tue Questions of the present session OF con-
gress.
COMMODORE MELvILLEs ARGUMENT
s.,or Morgan secured the Senate's permis-
,r - rrint fifteen thousand copies OF seVerai
,ro,o arguments advanced by Engineer-ln-
Cn,ef Melville Of the Navy, in favor OF imme-
dfate annexation one of which was puphsheu
IN The Tribune on February 13. These consist
Of three papers Of unusual Importance. in Which
this vigorous officer with his customary direct
ness and intense practicability. develops num-
ber Of convincing reasons why the failure 10 Sc
cure the islands might prove dangerous 10 'ne
security of the United States The chlet paper
which has not hitherto been published. relates
10 the strategic value or Hawaii whlch Is eA-
haustively treated. Among other things, Com
modore Melville declares that the North Pacihc
is. in effect an American ocean. of which the
United States must hold in natures fee simple
a paramount control Speaking OF the AMER
can possessions bordering II. he says:
Il this long stretch o. coast ana archipelago oe
taken as vas vast aI'nossn s he volcanic peaks
tn w.. ', - ne Hsvaan group rising out in
open ocean al the centre OF this primeval circle
They stand directly souih Of Alaska 5 greater area
and southwest OF California, confronting and com
mandng botn and all the neryenns smore 81" s,r,ber
islands TO bridge passage or give snelter ol sup up
& 10 bay iTeRa RsSb oh as NuIe fortress Of these
Jomini, very high authority ON the arr H % %ai'
tiou' as a geographical strategic point. ADDING thet
through its possession control is gwen of Of ,h is
area be fought for, the position Is aecisVss I'D
and its boundaries this group fulhls sgnaly these
conditions Just here there may he noted ne
defence Of our Western coast. As has been shown
Honolulu is within easy distance o. ftfhcn D. 3t "a
man English and Japanese stations on ne TaciinC;
s,a,es sSore either Of these foreign nations
held the islands It's ships reaching Ha"an cynp ~ 10
take supplies snd in I'VE or six deys d rrma9
ing for offensive operations or for retreat II neces
sary. 70 their island base. 49,. -. 49,, ot,o,,
~ however Hawaii be omitted from the propein
the situation changes wholly Excluding those on
The American continent, the foreign stat2n nedres
Tahiti a distance OF 1900 miles, but this port ls so
Ear from home and supports as 70 pfohblI lts lts, 10
There IS other Oversee station 50 near a. ans Is
Tahiti those Of Japan China Gr'.'l ld n6ta ,
Now. for a descent upon our Western territory
hostile feet must comprise @ ri,,b yessels Snu as
typical OF the foreign ships Tor oversee ~O h
we and that the Royal Sovereign be ship i4lgo
tons nd the DtadeTn frst-class cruiser LOO tons,
have each a coal endurance or Dut ovp niies az d
s;sf,.ng from en these distant stations without ae-
cess en- route 10 Hawaii. stearnins al most moi J,
crate speed. and unopposed upon me seq Siyy 0aiyy
hos from the nearest ports f21d ,e Je5Gh fGT aba
torn.a and these oniy KIN lQe' ioi
fOr attack none whatever for retreat ana win
he surety of meeting fully equipped feet OF the
Cnied States.
CONTROL OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL
In ne Mediterranean, midway between Port Said
and Gibraltar there stands Malta. won IN 1875 from
the Knights OF St John throusH the reacheFy Of
boAsyarte captured two year Iater Dy ms BIlusI
lis massive iortiacat.ons and its central position on
tie line 0: communication from EgyYt 70 14giiiii4r
coatsol ol .sthm.an transit As WIN Ma'la u aiiu
suez 50 with Honolulu and Nicar@f u';;, ha"aH
posi- 0. the American canal standing haH-way D%e. De
ina Hosu