The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-12

the ASSEMBLY the government at Wash
ington was not in favor of and which
HIS Majesty S Envoy had been instrue-
ted to state that this government would
not entertain for moment. There
had been further discussion about limit
ed possession of Pearl Harbor, such a.
by lease, but His Majesty s Envoy had
been instructed. and further instrue-
tons to the same effect were going by
today ss.mail, that whilst the Hawaiian
Government recognizes the United
States rs our nearest neighbor and one
of our best friends and expresses its
desire to maintain intact the present
cordial relations between the two gov.
ernments, yet His Majesty's Envoy was
| instructed to say that to accommodate
this great neighbor and friend we could
/ 20 any other great Power and would
| not consent to her receiving any special
privilege in Pearl Hsrbor or any other
harbor of the kingdom except as n
general privilege to be shared by other
Powers as well. He begged to say that
he knew nothing of any private corre-
spondence except this and there was
pressure of opinion going from here to
determine opinion in Washington, but
he would state that from his own point
of view there was nothing whatever
to apprehend with regard to the Gov
eminent of the United States. There
came from that government continued
assurances of cordial and friendly re-
gard and of determination to con-
tinue friendly relations with this king
dom. Such was the assurance from her
secretary of state that the government
desired no trammel to be imposed on
this kingdom. Whatever opinions there
might be here or at Washington there
was no occasion for the anxiety that
had been created in Europe by reports
of new negotiations. There was no
ground for apprehension and the Uni
ted States continued to be friendly"
The Advertiser indicated.
Then, in November, 1887, came the
signing of the treaty renewal, which
contained the P.arl Harbor clause ex-
actly as it had been printed in The
Advertiser over year previously. This
treaty gave the United States.
4" The exclusive right to
enter the harbor of Pearl River, in the
Island of Oahu, and to establish and
maintain there eoaling and repair
station for the use of vessels of the
United States, and to that end the
United States may improve the en-
trance of said harbor and do all things
needful TO the purpose aforesaid
Long Delayed, But Coming.
Since the signing Of TINS treaty,
Pearl Harbor has been the subject of
numerous reports, recommendations,
suggestions and ideas by official after
official. The value of the harbor has
never been denied, but the work of ac-
tually making it of use was delayed
through year after year. That delay
has now come to an end. Pearl Harbor
is about to be what the prophetic pen
of British naval officer announced
over a hundred years ago it would be
"the great naval base of the Pacific
ocean,
Secretary Of Wars Report.
What this will mean is given best
in the latest report made upon the sub.
ject, that of the secretary of war for
the year 1909, which says:
"The completion of fertilization
projects of the Philippines, Honolulu,
and Pearl Harbor, the strategic value Of
which exceeds that of other localities
in the insular possessions, will require
an additional expenditure of only $4,-
1888 Estimates for $3,635, SAG have
been submitted to congress for appro-
priations to complete the most urgent
part of this work, and il is earnestly
hoped that the necessary appropriations
will be made at the coming session of
congress.
'In previous reports Of the depart
ment the necessity has been pointed
out for having troops of the mobile
army as 'coast artillery supports; that
is, to defend the rear of the forts from
attack by the enemy which NAV be
landed from hottie ships for the pur-
pose of making such attack while the
ships are engaging the forts in front.
The need for troops for this purpose
IS most pressing for the successful de-
Tense of the Island of Oahu. Hawaii
The fortifca.iOn of this Island and
the construction of naval base there
on are estimated to involve an ultimate
expenditure of about Sl3 100000. Com
gress has already appropriated $4,000
600 for Notification work here, nearly
all of which has been expended. and
while these Notifications will be suffi-
cient to protect the naval base and Ho-
nolulu from purely naval attacks, they
are particularly vulnerable to attack
from the rear. II is absolutely neces-
sary that large permanent garrison
should be maintained in the Island to
furnish regular troops which in add.
tion TO the militia of Oahu, viii be
required as supports for the fortified;
tons. The chief Of coast artillery con
siders the need Of increasing the mobile
army for this purpose so urgcn, as 70
make it the most pressing military ne
cessity now confronting the United
States
at has been demonstrated by our
experience in the construction Of sea-