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 [Page 120] 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,
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.
Aberdeen.
[
l. s.]
St. Aulaire.
[
l. s.]
[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.
Benj. Harrison.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 6, 1893.
[Page 121]
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.
John W. Poster.
Department of
State,
Washington, February 6, 1893.
