No. 346.
Mr. Carter to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Hawaiian Legation, Washington, October 18,
1883. (Received October 18.)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a
revised protest on the part of the Hawaiian Government against the
annexation of archipelagoes and islands of Polynesia by foreign powers,
which I am instructed to lay before you, expressing the hope entertained
by His Hawaiian Majesty’s Government that the Government of the United
States will concur in its spirit and purpose.
The Government of the United States are doubtless aware of the agitation
which has been commenced by British colonists in Australia and New
Zealand and by French colonists in New Caledonia, having as its object
to induce their respective Governments to extend their dominion in the
Pacific by the forcible annexation of islands whose native inhabitants
have neither sought the protection of these nor other powers, nor given
any reasonable cause for the threatened subjugation. This agitation is
the immediate cause of the protest which the Hawaiian Government now
makes.
The uniform policy which has been pursued by the Government of the United
States towards Hawaii leads to a confident belief that its sympathies
will be entirely in favor of the sentiments to which expression has thus
been given.
I may also add that the Hawaiian Government have on several occasions
been appealed to by the native inhabitants of groups and islands in the
Pacific for guidance and counsel, and in a spirit of neighborly interest
and sympathy makes this appeal to the justice of the great powers, to
whom copies of this protest have been forwarded.
With renewed assurances, &c.,
[Page 575]
[Inclosure.—Protest.]
Whereas, His Hawaiian Majesty’s Government being informed that
certain sovereign and colonial states propose to annex various
islands and archipelagoes of Polynesia, does hereby solemnly protest
against such projects of annexation, as unjust to a simple and
ignorant people, and subversive in their case of those conditions
for favorable national development which have been so happily
accorded to the Hawaiian nation.
The Hawaiian people, enjoying the blessings of national independence,
confirmed by the joint action of great and magnanimous states, ever
ready to afford favorable opportunities for self-government, cannot
be silent about, or indifferent to, acts of intervention in
contiguous and kindred groups which menace their own situation.
The Hawaiian people, encouraged by favorable political conditions,
have cultivated and entertain a strong national sentiment, which
leads them not only to cherish their own political state, but also
inspires them with a desire to have extended to kindred yet less
favored communities of Polynesia like favorable opportunities for
national development.
And whereas a Hawaiian Legislative Assembly, expressing unanimously
the spirit of the nation, has declared that it was the duty of His
Hawaiian Majesty’s Government to proffer to kindred peoples and
states of the Pacific an advisory assistance to aid them in securing
opportunities for improving their political and social
condition,—
His Hawaiian Majesty’s Government, responding to the national will
and to the especial appeals of several Polynesian chiefs, has sent a
special commissioner to several of the Polynesian chieftains and
states to advise them in their national affairs;
And His Hawaiian Majesty’s Government, speaking for the Hawaiian
people, so happily prospering through national independence, makes
earnest appeal to the Governments of great and enlightened states,
that they will recognize the inalienable rights of the several
native communities of Polynesia to enjoy opportunities for progress
and self-government, and will guarantee to them the same favorable
opportunities which have made Hawaii prosperous and happy, and which
incite her national spirit to lift up a voice among the nations in
behalf of sister islands and groups of Polynesia.
By order of His Majesty in council,
WALTER M. GIBSON,
Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
Iolani Palace,
Honolulu, August 23, 1883.
