The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-03-03

toward carrying out the policy an
nounced by President Tyler thirty-fv'
years previously.
Coming down to the days of Blaine
and Mckinley, we find those Statesmen
repeating the declarations of theil
predecessors.
By the time that President Mckinley
reached the White House, 1t had be-
come apparent that the danger OF tht
occupation of Hawaii by a foreign
power had been shifted from European
nations to those of the Orient.
Finally, ten years ago, when the I'M
expected events of the Spanish-Amer-
lean war thrust a new situation upon
this nation, it became apparent that II
was necessary for the United States
to acquire the sovereignty of the Ha-
waiian Islands, both for the protection
of the Pacific coast and in order to
make IL possible to maintain any naval
base in the Far East.
But although this government an
nexed the Hawaiian Islands for the
particular value of their strategic loca-
ton, they have permitted almost ten
years to pass without turning a sod
or laying one foundation stone toward
the actual construction of a naval sta
ton at Pearl Harbor
1t is true that a magnificent site of
over 600 acres of ground has been ac-
quired for this purpose.
The ten square mile of landlocked
waters in Pearl Harbor could easily
accommodate the combined fleets of
this nation and of Great Britain, but
that can never give shelter to a battle
ship till docks are built and the chan
mel approach is Strengthened.
The Importance of Pearl Harbor as
a naval and military base has been
repeatedly urged by men able and ex-
perienced in military and naval
science; among them Captain (now
AdmiraD A. T. Mahan, who pointed
out with unanswerable arguments the
commanding Importance of Pearl Har-
Dor as the key to the Pacific.
Gentlemen of the committee, this
government has for ten years neglect
ed the safeguard of preparing a naval
base in the mid-Pac::6c. Our relations
with other nations are such today that
it would be inexcusable neglect of the
responsibility of Congress to the ma
ton to postpone the beginning of this
work another year.
The Navy Department ana the Cen
eral Board are at last keenly awake to
the urgent need of opening Pearl Har-
Dor and building a dry dock there at
once Both these lines of work should
be carried on together, and both should
be provided for in this bill.
I would respectfully suggest that
your committee invite Admiral Dewey
or some member of the Naval Board
to appear before you and state to you
in an executive session some
Of their reasons for the urgency of
work at Pearl Harbor, which they may
not care to transmit to you in writing.
The development of Pearl Harbor is
lot a Hawaiian proposition; it is a ma
ional need. But as my nation gave |
,ver its sovereignty to this country ten |
ears ago, we have a right to ask, and |
We do ask that adequate protection be |
provided for our islands, so that we
'ould not be captured by a single hos
lie battleship as could be done today.
Coast Notifications alone are not suf-
icient; there must be an operating
'ase for war vessels as well as coast
and the latter are useless
Without the former.
Hawaii should be defended for its
wn protection; but I repeat that it is
81 AhCAO AAApOl l1Ail 4OL lA1C OlltllSlNS
nd defensive plans of the nations as a
7hole.
Mr.. Hobson. I would like to remark,
4 connection with the suggestion
lade by the Prince, that ventured in
dvance to see Admiral Dewey and
theirs that have studied that ques-
ION, including General Bell. The Ad-
liral recommends Captain Pillsbury
s the man to represent the General
oard; and General Bell himself said
e would hold himself in readiness to
ppear before you If you desired his
resence on that question. He said he
ould be reached over the telephone
day if you wanted him.
NAVAL BASE IN HAWAII.
WASHINGTON, January Is. AMI