The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-28
Council Of State ApprOpTiatGS
$4,000 for Japan.
PAPERS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS
Letter From american Legation.
Reply - Resolution of Cabinet.
Request From Washington.

The Council of State took yesterday
afternoon the action anticipated by
the Advertiser in the morning account
of the disposition of the claim Of the
Japanese Government re immigrants
rejected here. The sum of money re-
quired - $4,000 - was appropriated
without a dissenting vote and the reso-
luton of the Cabinet on the subject
was approved unanimously Minister
Hatch attended the meeting upon the
invitation of President Dole
After the preliminary proceedings,
the following was read to the Council
as from the Cabinet:
In view of the expressed desire of
the United States that we should dis
pose of the issue between this country
and Japan, relating to the refusal of
admission of certain Japanese immi-
grants, and in view Of the fact that the
Japanese Government has offered to
compromise the matter for $75,000.:
Voted: That that offer be accepted
as a compromise and in full settlement
of all disputes on the subject between
the two governments of all claims
arising therefrom, including private
claims, and without any admission of
liability or of wrongful act on the part
Of Hawaii, and without waiver of any
principle heretofore contended for by
this Government in the matter; and
further that we request the Council
of State to appropriate this amount
from the public moneys; the compro-
mise of this matter under all the cir
cumstances, being properly regarded
as a great public necessity.
President Dole made a brief state
ment. He said this course was adopt
ed in accordance with the express re-
quest made to Minister Hatch by the
administration at Washington that the
matter be disposed of finally before
the sovereignty of this country went
to the control of the United States.
The American Minister resident here
had made the same request in a more
definite manner. The Cabinet here
felt that the President of the United
States and his advisors had strong
and good and sufficient reasons upon
which the request to Hawaii was bas-
ed. These reasons were not fully
known to Mr. Dole and his Ministers.
There had been repugnance to the
thought of making a cash settlement
with Japan for the reason that it was
felt Hawaii had been right, had acted
in good faith and had been fully JUS
titled in every way in each step taken.
The Cabinet had agreed that it was
best and proper to listen to the United
States and that probably a wrong
would be done and a mistake made if
there was failure to do this. The set
tlement will be accomplished with a
full and proper recognition of the prin-
ciples cOntended for by Hawaii. In
fine, tits purely a matter of cOmprO-
mise at the request of the United
States and made in order that the
United States may not inherit the dis
pute.
Minister Hatch said that he had been
requested to call at the State Depart
ment at Washington the day after the
joint resolution of annexation passed
the Senate. Here it was stated to him
that it was the earnest desire of Pres
ident Mckinley that this matter be
settled or compromised Details were
that there were important reasons of
state behind the request. There had
been no intimatiOn that the Govern
ment here was wrong in the premises.
On the contrary there had been in
formal assurance that it was believed
Hawaii was right as to the legal side
Of the question. 1t was pointed out
that Hawaii did not or need not admit
or cOncede liability and that nothing
in the settlement could be so con-
strued Mr. Hatch felt that serious
considerations had moved President
Mckinley to make the request and that
il was understood to be the wish Of the
administration ct Washington that the
question Of right or wrong in the case
itself should be set aside entirely in
making the compromise settlement.
Later the same day both the Hawaii
an and japanese Ministers at the
same time were addressed by the Sec
retary of State upon the affair and a
clear understanding reached. Mr..
Hatch had been requested to present
the matter to his government and had