Mr. Willis to Mr.
Gresham.
[Confidential.]
No. 16.]
Legation of
the United States,
Honolulu,
Hawaiian Islands, December 20, 1893.
Sir: On Monday afternoon at 6 p.m., before the
report of the Washington Place interview, referred to in my dispatch,
No. 15, of December 19, had been written from the stenographic notes,
Mr. Carter called at the legation and read to me a note to him, just
received from the Queen, in which she unreservedly consented, when
restored as the constitutional sovereign, to grant amnesty and assume
all obligations of the Provisional Government.
On yesterday (Tuesday) morning at 9 o’clock Mr. Carter brought a letter
from the Queen, a copy of which I inclose, and an agreement signed by
her, binding herself, if restored, to grant full amnesty, a copy of
which I inclose.
Very respectfully,
[Inclosure 1 with No
16.]
Washington Place,
Honolulu, December 18,
1893.
His Excellency Albert
Willis,
Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary, U. S. A.:
Sir: Since I had the interview with yon
this morning I have given the most care ful and conscientious
thought as to my duty, and I now of my own free will give my
conclusions.
I must not feel vengeful to any of my people. If I am restored by the
United States I must forget myself and remember only my dear people
and my country. I must forgive and forget the past, permitting no
proscription or punishment of any one, but trusting that all will
hereafter work together in peace and friendship for the good and for
the glory of our beautiful and once happy land.
Asking you to bear to the President and to the Government he
represents a message of gratitude from me and from my people, and
promising, with God’s grace, to prove worthy of the confidence and
friendship of your people,
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 with No.
16.]
I, Liliuokalani, in recognition of the high sense of justice which
has actuated the President of the United States, and desiring to put
aside all feelings of personal hatred or revenge and to do what is
best for all the people of these Islands, both native and foreign
born, do hereby and herein solemnly declare and pledge myself that,
if reinstated as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian
Islands, that I will immediately proclaim and declare,
unconditionally and without reservation, to every person who
directly or indirectly participated in the revolution of January 17,
1893, a full pardon and amnesty for their offenses, with restoration
of all rights, privileges, and immunities under the constitution and
the laws which have been made in pursuance thereof, and that I will
forbid and prevent the adoption of any measures of proscription or
punishment for what has been done in the past by those setting up or
supporting the Provisional Government.
I further solemnly agree to accept the restoration under the
constitution existing at the time of said revolution and that I will
abide by and fully execute that constitution with all the guaranties
as to person and property therein contained.
I furthermore solemnly pledge myself and my Government, if restored,
to assume all the obligations created by the Provisional Government,
in the proper course of
[Page 1270]
administration, including all expenditures for military or police
services, it being my purpose, if restored, to assume the Government
precisely as it existed on the day when it was unlawfully
overthrown.
Witness my hand this 18th of
December, 1893.
LILIUOKALANI.
