In fact, the series of events which, however menancing for the moment, bids fair to result in the establishment of the independence of the islands on a firm basis, is one of the most fortunate, on the whole, which could be imagined, and I can not but regard the recognition of the United States as having determined the character of all the succeeding occurrences. As soon as I received, last winter, the instructions of the Department on the subject, I lost no opportunity of bringing it to the consideration of Lord Aberdeen, and the occupation of the Marquesas by the French no doubt united with our recognition in hastening the decision of this Government. There is now reason to think that the occupation of the islands by Lord George Paulet was a fortunate event, inasmuch as it prevented them from being taken possession of by a French squadron, which (it is said) was on its way for that purpose. Had France got possession of the islands she would certainly have retained them. Had intelligence been received here of Lord George Paulet's occupation of them before her promise was given to recognize them, England, I think, would not have given them up. As it is, an understanding between the great European powers, amounting in effect, if not in form, to a guaranty of their independence, is likely to take place. This is the only state of things with which the United States could be content. As it will be brought about without involving us in any compacts with other powers, and as I have already said, mainly, as it seems to me, under the impulse of our example, it will, I think, be regarded by the President as an eminently satisfactory result.

וי

I had a coversation last evening of a satisfactory character with Mr. Richards, the commissioner of the Government of the Sandwich Islands. He has nearly brought his business with this Government to a close, and in a manner with which he appears to be content. You are aware that various claims on the Government of the Sandwich Islands on the part of the British subjects, and principally Mr. Charlton, the late consul, had long been pending, and that it was professedly to enforce satisfaction for these claims that possession was taken of the islands by Lord George Paulet. I fear that most of the claims were such as are too apt to be set up by the strong against the weak. The Government at home (as I intimated in a former dispatch the opinion. they would do), though disclaiming the act of Lord George Paulet as without instructions, determined to retain possession of the islands till satisfaction was given in reference to the claims, and some kind of an assurance procured from France that she would respect the independence of the islands,

A question arose how the claims were to be adjudicated. I advised Mr. Richards to offer to submit them to the decision of Lord Aberdeen himself. I thought this course would preclude delay, which there was some reason to fear might be desired here, and which would be very dangerous in the extremely anomalous condition of things. I doubted if the claims could be got before any tribunal independent of the influence of this Government; and I felt confident, that more could be obtained from the liberality of Lord Aberdeen when thus appealed to than if the British Government were made to assume the position of an opposing party. Mr. Richards fully concurred in this view, and the result, on the whole, seems to have justified it. On five out of seven points the decision is wholly in favor of the Government of the islands; on the sixth substantially so; on the seventh much is left dependent on the discernment and good faith of Gen. Miller, the new consul-general; but Mr. Richards considers this point to be also settled in their favor, and he has promptly accepted the whole decision. He informs me that he has been uniformly treated at the foreign office with courtesy and respect.

He has conferred freely with Mr. Addington, the under secretary of state, on the delicate point of restoring possession of the islands to the native Government, and has been promised that it shall be done as soon as a satisfactory assurance is given by France; and he thinksjustly, in my opinion-that it is for the interest of the islands that Great Britain should retain her possession till this assurance is given. There is no fear that it will be long withheld.

I have the honor to be, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,

EDWARD EVERETT.

Mr. Everett to Mr. Nelson.

No. 114.]

LONDON, April 24, 1844.

JOHN NELSON, Esq.,

Secretary of State ad interim:

SIR: In the course of the past year I had frequent occasion to make mention of the affairs of the Sandwich Islands and of the agency of Messrs. Richards and Haalilio, who had been sent to the United States and Europe as the representatives of the native Government. I have now the satisfaction to communicate authentic information of the conclusion of a convention between the governments of Great Britain and France, by which the independence of the Sandwich Islands is recognized, and the two powers stipulate that they will not take possession of them, either directly or under the name of a protectorate. Messrs. Richards and Haalilio have promised to give me a copy of this convention, which I hope they will do in season to be transmitted with this dispatch, but as it has not been published by either Government, and is of course communicated unofficially to me, I would suggest the propriety of receiving it for the present in confidence.

In their negotiations with this Government relative to the demands and complaints of British subjects against the native Government which led to the provisional occupation of the islands by Lord George Paulet, and with the French Government in reference to the modification of the treaty imposed by France on the islanders, of which treaty France exacts the benefits for herself while she refuses to grant them to the

other party, Messrs. Richards and Haalilio have been partially successful. But I fear that in both cases the measure of justice done by these powerful governments to this defenseless and feeble State is such and such only, as the strong are too apt to render to the weak.

The step taken by the French Government in disavowing the act of Admiral Dupetit-Thonars, who had without instructions converted the protectorate established at Taiti into an assertion of absolute sovereignty, continues to be vehemently assailed by the opposition in France. A large mass of papers on this subject was laid upon the table of the Chamber of Deputies a few days since by Mr. Guizot, and will be found in the Journal des Debats of the 20th instant. I do not find that they place the conduct of the French admiral in a new light.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

刪

EDWARD EVERETT.

Declaration.

Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and His Majesty the King of the French, taking into consideration the existence in the Sandwich Islands of a government capable of providing for the regularity of its relations with foreign nations have thought it right to engage reciprocally to consider the Sandwich Islands as an independent State and never to take possession, either directly or under the title of protectorate, or under any other form, of any part of the territory of which they are composed.

The undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, and the ambassador extraordinary of His Majesty the King of the French, at the court of London, being furnished with the necessary powers, hereby declare in consequence that their said majesties take reciprocally that engagement.

In witness whereof the undersigned have signed the present declaration, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms.

Done in duplicate at London, the 28th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1843.

[Senate Ex. Doc. No. 45. Fifty-second Congress, second session.]

Message from the President of the United States, in response to Senate resolution of February 4, 1893, relative to the draft of an uncompleted treaty with Hawaii.

FEBRUARY 6, 1893.-Read, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate:

I transmit herewith, as desired by the resolution of the Senate of the 4th instant, a report from the Secretary of State of the 6th instant, with its accompanying correspondence, in relation to the draft of an uncompleted treaty with Hawaii, made in 1854.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

BENJ. HARRISON.

Washington, February 6, 1893.

The PRESIDENT:

The Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the Senate of the 4th instant requesting the President, "if in his opinion it is not inconsistent with the public interests, to send to the Senate the draft of a treaty, negotiated in 1854, but not completed, between the plenipotentiaries of the United States and the Kingdom of Hawaii, with the correspondence between the two Governments relating to said negotiation," has the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the draft in question, together with copies of the correspondence referred to.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, February 6, 1893.

JOHN W. FOSTER.

List of accompanying papers.

1. Mr. Marcy to Mr. Gregg, April 4, 1854, No. 6.

2. Mr. Gregg to Mr. Marcy, July 26, 1854, No. 48.

3. Mr. Gregg to Mr. Marcy, August 7, 1854, No. 51.

4. Mr. Gregg to Mr. Marcy, September 15, 1854, No. 52.

(Copy of the treaty draft accompanies Mr. Gregg's dispatch No. 52, of September 15, 1854, included here.)

5. Mr. Gregg to Mr. Marcy, October 2, 1854, No. 54.

6. Mr. Gregg to Mr. Marcy, December 19, 1854, No. 61. 7. Mr. Gregg to Mr. Marcy, December 29, 1854, No. 64. 8. Mr. Marcy to Mr. Gregg, January 31, 1855, No. 12.

No. 6.1

Mr. Marcy to Mr. Gregg.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, April 4, 1854. SIR: In your general instructions you were furnished with the views of this Government in regard to any change in the political affairs of the Sandwich Islands. The President was aware, when those instructions were prepared, that the question of transferring the sovereignty of those islands to the United States had been raised, and favorably received by many influential individuals residing therein. It was foreseen that at some period, not far distant, such a change would take place, and that the Hawaiian Islands would come under the protectorate of or be transferred to some foreign power. You were informed that it was not the policy of the United States to accelerate such a change; but if, in the course of events, it became unavoidable, this Government would much prefer to acquire the sovereignty of these islands for the United States, rather than to see it transferred to any other power. If any foreign connection is to be formed, the geographical position of these islands indicates that it should be with us. Our commerce with them far exceeds that of all other countries; our citizens are embarked in the most important business concerns of that country, and some of them hold important public positions. In view of the large American interests there established and the intimate commercial relations existing at this. time it might well be regarded as the duty of this Government to prevent these islands from becoming the appendage of any other foreign power.

די

will

It appears by your dispatches lately received at this Department that the ruling authorities of the Hawaiian Government have become convinced of their inability to sustain themselves any longer as an independent State, and are prepared to throw themselves upon our protection or to seek incorporation into our political system. Fears are entertained by those who favor such a measure that if the United States should manifest a disinclination to receive the proffered sovereignty of this country, the people would seek elsewhere a less desirable connection or be given over to anarchy.

The information contained in your last dispatch, No. 10, dated the 7th of February, renders it highly probable that the ruling powers of that Government will have presented to you, as our diplomatic agent, an offer of the sovereignty of their country to the United States. The President has deemed it proper that you should be furnished with instructions for the guidance of your conduct in such an emergency. With this dispatch you will be furnished with a full power to treat with the present authorities of the Hawaiian Government for the transfer of the Sandwich Islands to the United States. This can only be done by a convention or treaty, which will not be valid until it is ratified by the Senate of the United States.

No intimation has ever been given to this Government as to the terms or conditions which will be likely to be annexed to the tender of the sovereignty. It is presumed, however, that something more than a mere protectorate is contemplated. A protectorate tendered to and accepted by the United States would not change the sovereignty of the country. In that case this Government would take upon itself heavy and responsible duties for which it could hardly expect compensating advantages.

I understand that the measure proposed by the people, and that in which the present rulers are disposed to concur, is "annexation" as distinguished from protection; and that it is their intention that these islands shall become a part of our Territories and be under the control of this Government as fully as any other of its territorial possessions. In any convention you may make it is expected that the rights to be acquired by the United States should be clearly defined.

Should the sovereignty of these islands be transferred to the United States, the present Government would, as a matter of course, be superseded, or, at least, be subjected to the Federal authority of this country. It is reasonable to anticipate that the present rulers and chiefs would expect that some provision would be made as compensation to them for the surrender of their political position. This provision could not be, as I conceive, any other than a pecuniary allowance. In this respect the United States would manifest toward them a liberal spirit. Annuities to the amount of $100,000 to be distributed in such manner as they would prefer might be secured to them in the treaty.

In the convention you may make you are authorized to provide in the amplest manner for the security of individual property as held at the time of the transfer of the sovereignty, but the reservation of political rights or privileges in behalf of individuals would be inconsistent with the political power which it is proposed to vest in the United States.

If you should succeed in making a treaty transferring the islands to the United States, it is advisable that it should receive the ratification of the Hawaiian Government before it is sent here for the consideration of the President and the Senate. You are directed to induce that Government to send on one or more persons at the same time the treaty is