The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-31


IF the japanese government did not
serve notice on the State Department
until July "a, as stated in the dispatch,
the notice was not received by our gov
eminent in time to advise Captain
Rosehill to offer no resistance IL ne
should fall in with Japanese warship.'
for the Julia E. Whalen sailed from
Honolulu on July 10. II the Japanese
warship referred to in the dispatch
sailed from Yokohama on July Is, she
will probably have reached Marcus,
which is about 500 miles from Yoke
hama, before the Whalen gets there
I think 1t altogether probable that the
japanese consul in Honolulu sent word
to bis government either by the Peru,
which left Honolulu on July 16. and
would reach Yokohama about the 24th
or 18th, or by the China, which left
here July Is and would reach San
Francisco July "a from which place
cabiegrams could be sent.
II feel at liberty to state now, what
what was not given to the press before,
what were the Instructions to Captain
Rosehil when he left Honolulu, by
which he will be governed, because no
adviceS sent by the State Department
could possibly reach him unless they
were cabled to Yokohama and carried
to him by the japanese warshfp, Enich
is not likely, as she had already sailed,
or unless there is an American govern
ment vessel at Yokohama and instruc-
tons were cabled to her to proceed 10
Marcus Island to give orders to Cap
tain Rosehill.
The company's instructions were
that on arriving at Marcus. II any re-
70 h q mr.
there, to present to them conmnnica-
ton in Japanese, and also to assure
them by a Japanese member of the
Whalen'S crew, that no interference
with any rights, either to the japanese
government or fishermen there, was in
tended by Captain Rosehilfs expedl-
ton; that the Whalen went to the ISL
and carrying a scientist representative
of the Bishop Museum, who desired to
examine the bird and fish life, and an
analytical chemist, who desired to ex-
anime the quantity and quality OF the
alleged guano deposits. Captain Rose
hill was instructed, in case the Japa-
nese still objected to his landing, to
protest and retire, sail away out of
sight, and that night to return TO the
other end of the island from that occu-
pied by the Japanese, go ashore with a
camping outfit, leaving three men on
the Whalen, taking the other ten with
himself, all armed with Mauser rifles
and a supply OF ammunition, there to
establish a camp and proceed peaceably
with his exploration of the guanO de-
posits, put up the American flag and
keep it there until it should be torn
down by a superior force; that he
should avoid in every way possible any
conflict, and to remember that he car
ried with him the license of the State
Department of the United States to oc-
cupy the island for the purpose or re-
moving the guano deposits for which
the company had given bond in the
sum of $4,000 that had been accepted
by the State Department.
He was further instructed that in
the event OF his meeting Japanese
warship, to present the same creden-
tails to its commander, with the asSur-
ance of the peaceable intentions of the
company. and if the Japanese COM
mander insisted, that he should then
request the privilege of going on the
island with men to examine the guano
which men should be unarmed, and if
desired, escorted by Japanese marines;
that the Marcus Island Guano Com
pany desired, and all that they expect
ed to accomplish, was 10 make care
full examination OF the guano deposits
and ascertain their extent and value.
He was also to state to the COM
mander that If they were not of value
why the company would necessarily
pursue the matter no further, and If
found to be of value, no attempt
would be made to take or hold the ISL
and forcibly, but the entire matter
would be RENTED to the respective
governments for settlement
at is most probable that the Japa-
nese war vessel will get to the island
before Captain Rosehill does. If it's Of
ficers refuse to accept the assurance OF
mis- peaceable intentions and decline to
allow him to land, his instructions are
to place the American flag in his boat
and take his men unarmcd to the ISL
and and land them on the island,
despite the refusal, and go on with the
expedition unless and until physically
driven away by the Japanese govern
ment
He was impressed with the send-
ment that the company, above all
things. desired to avoid any collision,
and that it would not relinQuish the
rights it had gained, without putting
the Japanese in n position of driving
American citizens from an island ac-
quired by the United States III 1889. The
telegram states that the Japanese an
nexed the island in 1898. That was nine
years after Captain Rosehill filed with
the State Department the evidence OF
his claim OF the island for the United
states, erected its flag, placed lis no
tice of claim and erected house, III
which he left a sailor who remained
there year.
THE testimony of Captain Rosehill
and six members of his crew is to the
effect that in 1889 there was not the
slightest sign or Vestige of previous
occupation by any person, savage or
civilized. He visited the island again
in 1898, and also in 1897. The cabin that
he erected and the glass bottle contain
ing the notice of claim which he placed
in the forks of the tree were there when
he left them, and not until 1898 did any
Japanese go upon the island II the
Japanese discovered the island as now
claimed in 1878, they certainly did not
claim it.
II have no doubt of the outcome of
this controversy, if there shall be
controversy. and don't think that I'm
Gle Sam will surrender any rights that
American citizens may have. 1 am only
anxious as a business proposition that
an opportunity shall be accorded to ex-
anime the alleged guano deposits and
find out whether we have anything to
contest for.
IF The VEhalan has been a absolutely |