The San Francisco call., 1898-08-16
YIELDED TO AMERICA'S WISH
THIS GOVERNMENT INSISTED
 ON A SETTLEMENT.
Controversy Over the Prevention of Coolie Immigration to the Islands Brought to g.
 Final Close.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

HONOLULU, Aug 2.-At the request of the United States Government Hawaii has compromised the Japanese claim by the payment of $75 900. The President and Cabinet felt this to be a very humiliating return for annexation, but the polite but imperative suggestion of the American Minister that this claim must be removed from the road before Admiral Miller could hoist the American flag, was re- garded by the Executive Council and the Council of State as sufficient reason Tor voting the amount although they denied the justice of the claim.
 The meeting was held on Wednesday, July 27 the day after the Doric's sailing and was presided over by President Dole; the Cabinet, ten Councillors out of the fif- teen, and Minister F. M. Hatch, were present. The President called for the reading of the resolution adopted by the Executive Council, to the effect that in view of the Hawaiian Government having been requested by the United States Gov ernment to dispose of the matters in con troversy between Hawaii and the Govern ment of Japan before the sovereignty of l this country is transferred to the United States, and the Executive Council, deem ing the matter one of great public emer- gency, requests the authority of the Council of State for paying to Japan the sum of s75 900 in full payment of that country's claims, but without in any man. ner waiving the conviction of the Govern ment that 1t was right in resisting the claims of. Japan according to the facts and principles of the case.
 In discussing the resolution the Presi- dent said that while the payment of these claims was very humiliating to his Gov ernment, yet at the request of the United i States, and to facilitate annexation, the i Council had decided to yield, without 1 however, admitting that the Government | inv fa1 fnt- Hatch to make statement before the | correspondence with Minister Sewall was read
 1 MT. Hatch reported a conversation that | he had had with Secretary of State Day, ] who expressed his regret at the crcum- | stances dictating compromise, but there were reasons of state for making 1t, and 1 the request was not meant in any way l to bear the construction that Hawaii was in the wrong. It was very desirable on
 the part of the United States that the l controversy should be determined before the transfer of sovereignty.
 | Minister of Foreign Affairs Cooper i spoke in justification of the course of the 1 Government. It was, indeed humiliating l to him to compromise the matter but, | under the circumstances, it was wiser for
 the Government to yield. After all, the settlement was a compromise at half the amount claimed. and small in comparison with the probable expense to the country of arbitration proceedings The Minister l then read the following letter from Min l ister Sewall:
 LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
 HONOLULU, H. l., July 26, 1898.
 Honorable Henry E. Cooper, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Honoulu-Sir: have 1 the honor to inform you that l have re- | ceived instructions from my Government expressing anxiety to secure an immedi-
 ate solution of the question at issue be- 1 tween Hawaii and Japan whereby the | approaching transfer of Hawaiian terri
 tory would be freed from any ultimate questions tending to embarrass it in it's
 dealings with a third power.
 The instructions assume that to this end
 and as the only means of accomplishing it, your Government will close the inci- | sonable indemnity.
 It is not to be understood that this course of action is urged by the Government of the
 United States on any other grounds than
 as a necessary preliminary to the formal
 transfer of sovereignty which Is now | awaited.
 The instructions make it clear that
 untii this action is taken by Hawaii A. | serious obstacle will exist to the execu-
 ton of the instructions which Rear Ad- l niral Miller may bring to me a+ any | time I do not need to point out to VOL
 how unfortunate from every point of | view would be further delay in effect ing the consummation which both our l Goyernments so earnestly wish
 | My instructions are imperative to do all
 I can to bring about as speedily as pos- sible this desired adjustment.
 finder all the circumstances, and hay
 ing regard to common nm interests, ven
 ture to express the hope that you will lose no time in securing the compliance
 nf inc Hawaiian executive with the views
 of of the Government at Washington.
 have the honor to be- sir, your obedi-
 ent servant, HAROLD M. SEwALI.
 Minister Cooper's reply, agreeing to the l navment only because of the United Bates insistence. also was read.
 Other speakers followed in the same 1 ,ootjon of P. O. Jones and Speaker Kau i,ikou the money was ordered paid.
 Councillor John Philips brought up the l ....nr4iar, nf the British claimants for com