Mr. Willis to Mr. Gresham.
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, January 16, 1894.
Sir: In a letter from Hon. S. B. Dole, minister of foreign affairs, addressed to me under date of January 11, the following statement is made:
On November 14, Mr. Thurston, Hawaiian minister at Washington, called upon the Secretary of State, and inquired if the above letter [yours of October 18] was authentic, and was assured by Mr. Gresham that it was.
Mr. Thurston then said: “I wish, then, to further ask whether it is the intention of the United States Government to carry out its policy therein indicated by force; [Page 1305] or, in other words, whether, if the Provisional Government declines to accede to the request of the United States Government to vacate in favor of the Queen, United States troops will be used to enforce the request.”
To which Mr. Gresham replied:
“I am not at liberty at present to answer that question. It is a matter concerning which I will speak to the President and talk with you more fully this afternoon.”
In the afternoon of the same day Mr. Gresham further said to Mr. Thurston:
“I have already answered your first question, to the effect that the letter published [Secretary Gresham to the President] was authentic, and a correct statement of the policy of the United States. As to your second question, as to whether force is to be used by the United States to restore the Queen, all that I am at liberty to state is that Mr. Willis has no instructions to do anything which will cause injury to life or property of any one at the islands. Further than this I am not at liberty to state what his instructions are. You can draw your own inferences from my statement and allay any apprehension which may have been caused by what has been published.”
Mr. Thurston further said to Mr. Gresham:
“Your answer does not convey the information which I requested. What I desire is to obtain information which will guide my Government in their action. If they know that force is to be used by you their course of action will necessarily be different from what it otherwise would be. The definite information from me that you intend to use force may be the means of preventing them from using force and causing bloodshed.”
To which Mr. Gresham replied:
“Our relations in the past have been pleasant and I want them to continue to be so in the future and to be perfectly courteous to you, but I can not at present answer you more fully than I have done.”
I do not know whether Mr. Thurston made this statement public in the United States at the time, but I do know that the first intimation that this community has upon the subject is contained in Mr. Dole’s letter of the 11th instant.
Had your statement to Mr. Thurston been made public here at the time (November 24) when it was received the excitement resulting from the warlike preparations of the Provisional Government would have been allayed and critical and dangerous conditions avoided.
With high regard, I am, sir, very respectfully,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.