of seven years. A recently signed treaty to this end is now before

the Senate.

"The importance of telegraphic communication between those islands and the United States should not be overlooked."

President Cleveland, annual message, Dec. 6, 1886.

December 27, 1886, the legation of the United States at Honolulu reported that King Kalakaua had commissioned one of his subjects as "minister plenipotentiary to the Kings of Samoa and Tonga, and the independent chiefs and peoples of Polynesia," and that the envoy had departed for Samoa with a secretary of legation and two attachés. This mission resulted in the conclusion, in February and March, 1887, of a treaty of "political confederation" between Hawaii and Samoa. Not long afterwards, however, the legation reported that the special mission had been recalled and that what was commonly known as "the Hawaiian Polynesian policy" had come to an end.a

"The tenor of your late dispatches coincides with other reports from the Hawaiian Kingdom, and indicates the most unsatisfactory and disturbed condition of affairs in the government of that country, which renders it essential that the strictest vigilance should be exercised by those charged with the care of the rights of American citizens within that jurisdiction, as well as the rights of the United States secured under existing international conventions.

"Whilst regretting deeply the existence of domestic disorders in Hawaii, and with no disposition whatever to interfere therein or to obtrude counsel unasked, yet the consequences which may possibly result to the interests of American citizens which have grown up under the extension of the commerce between that country and the United States, under the guaranties of existing treaty, must not be jeopardized by internal confusion in the government of these islands, and it is the duty of the United States to see that these interests are not imperiled or injured, and to do all things necessary for their just protection.

"The existing treaty between the United States and Hawaii, as was contemplated and intended by the parties thereto, has created and fostered commercial relations more intimate in their nature and of incomparably greater volume and value than Hawaii ever had or ever can have with any other government.

"The growth of this commerce and the consequent advancement of these islands in wealth and importance has been most satisfactory to

a Mr. Hastings, chargé at Honolulu, to Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, Dec. 27, 1886; Mr. Merrill, min. to Hawaii, to Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, March 29 and July 13, 1887, For. Rel. 1887, 566, 569, 581; Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Carter, Hawaiian min., April 12, 1887, MS. Notes to Hawaii, I. 119; Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Merrill, min. to Hawaii, Jan. 8, 1887, MS. Inst. Hawaii, III. 28.

the United States, and by reason of their geographical position and comparative propinquity to our own territory they possess an interest and importance to us far exceeding that with which they can be regarded by any other power. In the absence of any detailed information from you of the late disorders in the domestic control of Hawaii, and the changes which have taken place in the official corps of that Government, I am not able to give you other than general instructions, which may be communicated in substance to the commanding officer of the vessel or vessels of this Government in the waters of Hawaii, with whom you will freely confer, in order that such prompt and efficient action may be taken as the circumstances may make necessary.

"Whilst we abstain from interference with the domestic affairs of Hawaii, in accordance with the policy and practice of this Government, yet obstruction to the channels of legitimate commerce under existing treaty must not be allowed, and American citizens in Hawaii must be protected in their persons and property by the representatives of their country's law and power, and no internal discord must be suffered to impair them. Your own aid and counsel, as well as the assistance of the officers of our Government vessels, if found necessary, will therefore be promptly afforded to promote the reign of law and respect for orderly government in Hawaii.

"As is well known, no intent is cherished or policy entertained by the United States which is otherwise than friendly to the autonomical control and independence of Hawaii, and no other member of the family of nations has so great and immediate an interest in the welfare and prosperity of Hawaii on such a basis as this Republic.

"The vast line of our national territory on the Pacific coast, and its neighborhood to the Hawaiian group, indicate the recognized predominance of our interests in the region of these islands.

"This superiority of interest in the welfare of the Hawaiian Islands is accompanied by an appreciation of the right of these friendly inhabitants and their Government to our good offices, which we freely tender whenever they can be efficacious in securing the safety and promoting the welfare of that island group.'

Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Merrill, min. to Hawaii, July 12, 1887, For. Rel. 1887, 580. See, also, Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Phelps, min. to England, May 13, 1887, referring to the visit of Queen Kapiolani, consort of King Kalakaua, to Washington, en route to England to attend the Queen's Jubilee. Queen Kapiolani was attended by the Princess Liliuokalani, sister of the King, and her husband, General Dominis, who was understood to be charged with negotiations concerning steamship facilities and a loan. (MS. Inst. Great Britain, XXVIII. 320.) An account of Queen Kapiolani's reception in Washington is given in Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Merrill, min. to Hawaii, May 26, 1887, MS. Inst. Hawaii, III. 38.

In 1883 the term of seven years for which the reciprocity treaty was to endure expired, and the treaty became terminable on Renewal of recitwelve months' notice by either party. The subject procity treaty. of its definite extension was discussed not only diplomatically, but also in Congress." A convention definitely extending it for seven years, after which it was again to become terminable on twelve months' notice, was concluded at Washington, December 6, 1884. Owing to opposition, springing chiefly from sugar interests in the United States, but also to some extent from constitutional objections to reciprocity treaties in general, the ratifications of this convention were not exchanged until November 9, 1887.'

Pearl Harbor.

By an amendment inserted as Art. II. by the United States Senate, the King of Hawaii granted to the Government of the United States "the exclusive right to enter the harbor of Pearl River in the island of Oahu, and to establish and maintain there a coaling and repair station for the use of vessels of the United States," and to that end to "improve the entrance to said harbor, and do all other things needful to the purpose aforesaid." Before the exchange of ratifications the Hawaiian Government sought an explanation of this provision, to the effect that it did not and was not intended "to invade or diminish in any way the autonomous jurisdiction of Hawaii while giving to the United States the exclusive right of the use of Pearl Harbor stipulated therein, for the sole purpose stated in the article, and, further, that the Article II. of the convention, and the privileges conveyed by it, will cease and determine with the termination of the treaty of 1875, under the conditions fixed by this convenThe Department of State, while disclaiming any power "to qualify, expand, or explain" the amendment of the Senate, declared 66 no ambiguity or obscurity" was observable in it, and that there was discerned in it "no subtraction from Hawaiian sovereignty over the harbor to which it relates, nor any language importing a longer duration" than that prescribed for the treaty of 1875 as extended.

that

་་

On December 23, 1887, Sir Lionel West, British minister at Washington, handed to Mr. Bayard the following memorandum:

a See House Report 1860, 47 Cong. 2 sess.; Senate Report 76, 48 Cong. 1 sess., parts 1 and 2.

See report of Mr. Tucker, March 3, 1887, H. Report 4177, 49 Cong. 2 sess., stating constitutional objections. See, as to the failure of the ratifications of the Marcy reciprocity treaty of 1855, Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. McCulloch, Sec. of Treas., Jan. 17, 1867, 75 MS. Dom. Let. 105.

e For. Rel. 1887, 588.

₫ Mr. Carter, Hawaiian min., to Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, Sept. 23, 1887, For. Rel. 1887, 589, 591.

Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Carter, Hawaiian minister, Sept. 23, 1887, For. Rel. 1887, 591. See, also, Mr. Bayard, Sec. of State, to Mr. Merrill, Min. to Hawaii, Sept. 26, 1887, MS. Inst. Hawaii, III. 56.

"England and France by the convention of November 28, 1843, are bound to consider the Sandwich Islands as an independent State and never to take possession, either directly or under the title of a protectorate or any other form, of any part of the territory of which they are composed.

"The best way to secure this object would, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, be that the powers chiefly interested in the trade of the Pacific should join in making a formal declaration similar to that of 1843 above alluded to, and that the United States Government should, with England and Germany, guarantee the neutrality and equal accessibility of the islands and their harbors to the ships of all nations without preference." a

To this communication Mr. Bayard replied:

"PERSONAL.]

"DEPARTMENT OF STATE, "Washington, February 15, 1888. "DEAR SIR LIONEL: After reading the memorandum of Lord Salisbury in relation to the Sandwich Islands, it does not occur to me that I can add anything to what I stated to you orally in our interview on the 23d of December last, when you first sent it to me.

"I was glad to find that you quite understood and had conveyed to your Government the only significance and meaning of the Pearl Harbor concession by the Hawaiian Government, as provided in the late treaty of that Government with the United States, and that it contained nothing to impair the political sovereignty of Hawaii.

"The existing treaties of the United States and Hawaii create, as you are aware, special and important reciprocities, to which the present material prosperity of Hawaii may be said to owe its existence, and by one of the articles the cession of any part of the Hawaiian territory to any other government without the consent of the United States is inhibited.

Constitution of 1887;

"In view of such existing arrangements it does not seem needful for the United States to join with other governments in their guaranties to secure the neutrality of Hawaiian territory, nor to provide for that equal accessibility of all nations to those ports which now exists.” July 30, 1889, an insurrection under the lead of two Hawaiian halfcastes, named Robert W. Wilcox and Robert Boyd, insurrection of took place at Honolulu. It was soon suppressed, and during the disturbance a force of marines from the U. S. S. Adams was landed by permission, with a machine gun, to protect life and property at the legation and in the city, their appearance on the streets having a favorable effect on the population. Soon after the attempted revolution, the supreme court of Hawaii rendered a decision to the effect that the king could govern only through

1889.

a For. Rel. 1894, App. II. 24.

his cabinet. This decision was rendered under the constitution which, as the result of "an uprising of nearly the whole foreign population, supported by the better class of natives," King Kalakaua had accepted and signed on June 30, 1887; a constitution designed to substitute, for the personal rule of the king, government by a cabinet responsible only to the legislature." While government was more securely conducted under this system, yet a certain native antagonism was exhibited toward it, not only because it curtailed the powers of the native king but also because it increased the political privileges of the foreign residents, who were allowed to enjoy political rights without renouncing their foreign allegiance and citizenship."

Death of Kalakaua;

uokalani.

In January, 1891, King Kalakaua, who had lately arrived in the United States on a friendly visit, died at San Fransuccession of Lili- cisco. The Princess Liliuokalani, who had accompanied Queen Kapiolani at the celebration of the Victorian jubilee in London in 1887, and who, when Kalakaua departed for San Francisco, was appointed regent during his absence, was proclaimed Queen. She was duly recognized by the United States. In January, 1893, a revolution took place at Honolulu. The abdication of the Queen was secured and a provisional govmonarchy, 1893; ernment, at the head of which was Judge Sanford B. treaty of annexa- Dole, was set up, to continue till annexation to the United States should be accomplished. February 14, 1893, a treaty of annexation was signed at Washington by Mr. Foster, Secretary of State, and five commissioners on the part of the provisional government. It was submitted by President Harrison to the Senate. February 15, 1893. In his message of transmission he stated that the

Overthrow of the

tion.

a For. Rel. 1894, App. II. 664.

For. Rel. 1894, App. II. 1168.

c For. Rel. 1891, 644, 648, 649; id. 1894, App. II. 26, 1166.

✔ Mr. Blaine, Sec. of State, to Mr. Stevens, min. to Hawaii, February 28, 1891, For. Rel. 1894, App. II. 1176. See, also, Mr. Foster, Sec. of State, to Sec. of Navy, Nov. 5, 1892, 189 MS. Dom. Let. 98.

President Harrison, in his annual message of Dec. 6, 1889, said: "Our relations with Hawaii have been such as to attract an increased interest, and must continue to do so. I deem it of great importance that the projected submarine cable, a survey for which has been made, should be promoted. Both for naval and commercial uses we should have quick communication with Honolulu. We should before this have availed ourselves of the concession, made many years ago to this Government, for a harbor and naval station at Pearl River. Many evidences of the friendliness of the Hawaiian Government have been given in the past, and it is gratifying to believe that the advantage and necessity of a continuance of very close relations is appreciated." See, also, President Harrison's annual message of Dec. 9, 1891. In 1890 Mr. Carter, the Hawaiian minister at Washington, was appointed by his government as a delegate to the International American Conference, but too late to permit him to take part in its proceedings. (Mr. Blaine, Sec. of State, to Mr. Carter, Hawaiian min., May 3, 1890, MS. Notes to Hawaii, I. 154.)