The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-12
Would NOT Be SETTLED
SHOULD UNCLE SAM REJECT THE
ANNEXATION TREATY.
The Opinion of General Foster-Ile
Points Out That Refusal Would Gre
ate Several Embarrassments.

EN-Secretary of State John W. Fos-
ter, VINO. while Il member of the Har-
rison cabinet, negotiated the first
treaty of anneXing Hawaii to the
United States, and who has since Wis
tied the Islands and taken much in
terest in their acquisition, when ask
ed recently in Washington as to the
status of the annexation question,
said:
"The opponents in Congress of la
waian annexation will not have dis
posed of the question by voting
against and defeating this measure.
They must decide what shall be the
policy and conduct of the United
States toward the Islands for the flu
ture. Having refused the application
of the Island government for incorpo-
ration into our union, such an act nee
essarily carries with it the right of
the former to determine its own po-
litcal destiny uninfluenced by CON
siderations affecting the United States
of America.
But such course would present
embarrassments to Congress of no
small moment. During the last adj
ministration of President Cleveland
the House of Representatives resolved
that foreign Intervention in the po-
litical affairs of the Islands will not
be regarded with Indifference by .tne
government of the United States
During the same session the Senate.
by unanimous vote, went step FUR
Their, and declared that any interview
ton in the political affairs of these is
Ia Inv Ia,
garded as an act unfriendly to tine.
United States These utterances were
in line with the policy of our govern
ment for half century. but it is pos
sble and competent for congress 20
change the policy of the government
at any time. Its rejection of annex
alton would in effect nuIIfy the dec
larations cited. but there would still
be another serious embarrassment TO
be disposed of. to-wit. the reciprocity
treaty.
| POLITICAL CAUSES OF TREATY.
1T would be easy to annul the COM
mercal clauses OF that convention,
| and that would be in harmony vita
! the views long cherished by many of
our public men, but the political claus
es of that treaty present different
question. They are two. in number
First, "A stipulation on the part of
| Hawaii not to lease, dispose of or ere
ate any lien upon any port harbor, or
other territory to any other goveru-
ment: and second, to grant to the
I United States the exclusive right to
Pearl River harbor as ii coaling and
naval station. The first of these DO
| Il,
the treaty, and after the rejection of
annexation it would be inconsistent
on our part to insist upon its main
tenance. The second clause, however,
is held by the Senators who ratified
the treaty to be permanent agree
ment. The denunciation of the reel
procty treaty would still leave us
with the grant of Pearl Harbor. 1t is
the only place suitable for naval
station in these Islands, or anywhere
within radius of two thousand
miles.
whatever may be the sentiment of
the American people as to annexation
doubt whether any considerable
! body of them would approve of the
surrender of this very valuable station
for our growing navy, and for which
we have paid so dear a price in our
reciprocity arrangement. And vet
! with the rejection of annexation, we
must look forward to the certainty IF
IT'S eventful surrender, as our occupa-
tion would be impossible with the Is
lands under the dominion of a power
full government.
| LIKELY TO TURN TO ENGLAND.
But | do not think the Islands will
pass under the dominion of japan. If
the people of American origin now in
control of the government are reject
ed by Congress, they will. in my opin-
ion, turn to their kinsmen, the Eng
fish and Canadians. They have learn
ed from the colonial history of Great
Britain that wherever the British flag
goes there follow equal taxation Just
and impartial administration of the
laws and honest and orderly govern
ment. While | have no information as
to the purposes of the present Ha-
waiian rulers, | feel sure that when Il
is finally determined that they are not
to be annexed to the United States.
they will lose no time in opening ne
gotiations with Great Britain, and the
result of those negotiations will be
| neither slow nor uncertain"