Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, Appendix II, Affairs in Hawaii

Mr. Blaine to Mr. Comly.

[Confidential.]

Department of State,
Washington, December 1, 1881.

James M. Comly, Esq., Honolulu:

Sir: In my formal instruction of this date I have reviewed the general question of the relationship between the United States and the Hawaiian Islands, and the position of the latter, both as an integral part of the American system and as the key to the commerce of the North Pacific. As that instruction was written for communication to the Hawaiian secretary of state, I touched but lightly on the essential question of the gradual and seemingly inevitable decadence and extinction of the native race and its replacement by another, to which the powers of Government would necessarily descend.

A single glance at the census returns of Hawaii for half a generation past exhibits this alarming diminution of the indigenous element, amounting to 1½ per cent per annum of the population. Meanwhile the industrial and productive development of Hawaii is on the increase, and the native classes, never sufficiently numerous to develop the full resources of the islands, have been supplemented by an adventitious labor element, from China mainly, until the rice and sugar fields are largely tilled by aliens. The worst of this state of things is that it must inevitably keep on in increasing ratio, the native classes growing smaller, the insular production larger, and the immigration to supply the want of labor greater every year.

I have shown in a previous instruction how entirely Hawaii is a part of the productive and commercial system of the American States. So far as the staple growths and imports of the islands go, the reciprocity treaty makes them practically members of an American zollverein, an outlying district of the State of California. So far as political structure and independence of action are concerned, Hawaii is as remote from our control as China. This contradiction is only explicable by assuming what is the fact, that thirty years ago, having the choice between material annexation and commercial assimilation of the islands, the United States chose the less responsible alternative. The soundness of the choice, however, entirely depends on the perpetuity of the rule of the native race as an independent government, and that imperiled, the whole framework of our relations to Hawaii is changed, if not destroyed.

The decline of the native Hawaiian element in the presence of newer and sturdier growths must be accepted as an inevitable fact, in view of the teachings of ethnological history. And as retrogression in the development of the Islands can not be admitted without serious detriment to American interests in the North Pacific, the problem of a replenishment of the vital forces of Hawaii presents itself for intelligent solution in an American sense—not in an Asiatic or a British sense.

There is little doubt that were the Hawaiian Islands, by annexation or district protection, a part of the territory of the Union, their fertile resources for the growth of rice and sugar would not only be controlled by American capital, but so profitable a field of labor would attract intelligent workers thither from the United States.

A purely American form of colonization in such a case would meet all the phases of the problem. Within our borders could be found the capital, the intelligence, the activity, and the necessary labor trained in the rice swamps and cane fields of the Southern States, and it may be well to consider how, even in the chosen alternative of maintaining Hawaiian independence, these prosperous elements could be induced to go from our shores to the islands, not like the coolies, practically enslaved, not as human machines, but as thinking, intelligent, working factors in the advancement of the material interests of the islands.

I desire, therefore, that you will give this subject due attention. An examination and report will be valuable if showing the proportion of occupied rice and sugar lands to the unoccupied and undeveloped territory, the capacities of production, the peculiarities of climate, the wages of labor, and the cost of living. It will also be well for you in conversation with the leading men of Hawaii to turn their thoughts discreetly in the direction of inviting American colonization there. A Hawaiian homestead act for the benefit of actual American settlers, with remission of taxation during the time necessary to establish new plantations on a paying basis, might be in turn supplemented in the United States by voluntarily organized emigration schemes and cooperative aid to bona fide settlers. Throughout the continent, north and south, wherever a foothold is found for American enterprise, it is quickly occupied, and this spirit of adventure, which seeks its outlet in the mines of South America and the railroads of Mexico, would not be slow to avail itself of openings for assured and profitable enterprise even in mid-ocean.

Commending this aspect of the subject to your earnest and immediate attention,

I am, etc.,

James G. Blaine.

Hawaiian islands.

Supplementary convention between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands, to limit the duration of the convention respecting commercial reciprocity concluded January 30, 1875.

Concluded December 6, 1884; ratification advised by Senate January 20, 1887; ratified by President November 7, 1887; ratified by King October 20, 1887; ratifications exchanged at Washington November 9, 1887; proclaimed November 9, 1887.

by the president of the united states of america.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas a convention between the United States of America and the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, for the purpose of definitely limiting the duration of the convention concerning commercial reciprocity concluded between the same high contracting parties on the thirtieth day of January, 1875, was concluded and signed by their respective plenipotentiaries at the city of Washington, on the sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord 1884, which convention, as amended by the Senate of the United States and being in the English language, is word for word as follows:

Supplementary convention to limit the duration of the convention respecting commercial reciprocity between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom, concluded January 30, 1875.

Whereas a convention was concluded between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands, on the thirtieth day of January, 1875, concerning commercial reciprocity, which by the fifth article thereof was to continue in force for seven years from the date after it was to come into operation, and further, until the expiration of twelve months after either of the high contracting parties should give notice to the other of its wish to terminate the same; and

Whereas the high contracting parties consider that the increase and consolidation of their mutual commercial interests would be better promoted by the definite limitation of the duration of the said convention:

Therefore, the President of the United States of America and His Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands have appointed:

The President of the United States of America, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State; and

His Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands, Henry A. P. Carter, accredited to the Government of the United States, as His Majesty’s envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary;

Who, having exchanged their respective powers, which were found sufficient and in due form, have agreed upon the following articles:

Article I.

The high contracting parties agree, that the time fixed for the duration of the said convention, shall be definitely extended for a term of seven years from the date of the exchange of ratifications hereof, and further, until the expiration of twelve months after either of the high contracting parties shall give notice to the other of its wish to terminate the same, each of the high contracting parties being at liberty to give such notice to the other at the end of the said term of seven years or at any time thereafter.

Article II.

His Majesty the King of the Hawaiian Islands grants to the Government of the United States the exclusive right to enter the harbor of Pearl River, in the island of Oahu, and to establish and maintain there a coaling and repair station for the use of vessels of the United States, and to that end the United States may improve the entrance to said harbor and do all other things needful to the purpose aforesaid.

Article III.

The present convention shall be ratified and the ratifications exchanged at Washington as soon as possible.

In witness whereof the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present convention in duplicate, and have hereunto affixed their respective seals.

Done at the city of Washington the 6th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1884.

Fredk. T. Frelinghuysen. [l. s.]

Henry A. P. Carter. [l. s.]

And whereas the said convention, as amended, has been duly ratified on both parts, and the respective ratifications of the same have been exchanged.

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America, have caused the said convention to be made public to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof, as amended, may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

[seal.] Done at the city of Washington this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twelfth.

Grover Cleveland.

By the President:
T. F. Bayard,
Secretary of State.

Parcels Post Convention between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom.

For the purpose of making better postal arrangements between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom, the undersigned, Don M. Dickinson, Postmaster-General of the United States of America, and H. A. P. Carter, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Hawaiian Kingdom at Washington, by virtue of authority vested in them by law, have agreed upon the following articles for the establishment of a parcels post system of exchanges between the two countries.

Article I.

The provisions of this convention relate only to parcels of mail matter to be exchanged by the system herein provided for, and do not affect the arrangements now existing under the Universal Postal Union Convention, which will continue as heretofore; and all the agreements hereinafter contained apply exclusively to mails exchanged under these articles, directly between the office of San Francisco, in the State of California, and such other offices within the United States as may be hereafter designated by the Postmaster-General of the United States, and the office of Honolulu, in the island of Oahu, and such other offices within the Hawaiian Islands as maybe hereafter designated by the postmaster-general of the Hawaiian Kingdom; such matter to be admitted to the mails under these articles as shall be sent through such exchange offices from any place in either country to any place in the other.

Article II.

1. There shall be admitted to the mails exchanged under this convention, articles of merchandise and mail matter, except letters, post cards, and written matter, of all kinds, that are admitted under any conditions to the domestic mails of the country of origin, except that no packet must exceed 5 kilograms or 11 pounds in weight, nor the following dimensions: Greatest length, three feet six inches; greatest length and girth combined, six feet; and must be so wrapped or inclosed as to permit their contents to be easily examined by postmasters and customs officers; and except that the following articles are; prohibited:

Publications which violate the copyright laws of the country of destination; poisons, and explosive or inflammable substances; fatty substances, liquids, and those which easily liquefy, confections and pastes; live or dead animals, except dead insects and reptiles when thoroughly dried; fruits and vegetables, and substances which exhale a bad odor; lottery tickets, lottery advertisements, or lottery circulars; all obscene or immoral articles; articles which may in any way damage or destroy the mails, or injure the persons handling them; also opium.

2. All admissible articles of merchandise mailed in one country for the other, or received in one country from the other, shall be free from any detention or inspection whatever, except such as is required for collection of customs duties, and shall be forwarded by the most speedy means to their destination, being subject in their transmission to the laws and regulations of each country respectively.

Article III.

1. A letter or communication of the nature of personal correspondence must not accompany, be written on, or enclosed with any parcel.

2. If such be found, the letter will be placed in the mails if separable, and if inseparably attached, the whole package will be rejected. If, however, any such should inadvertently be forwarded, the country of destination will collect double rates of postage according to the Universal Postal Union Convention.

3. No parcel may contain parcels intended for delivery at an address other than the one borne by the parcel itself. If such enclosed parcels be detected, they must be sent forward singly, charged with new and distinct parcel post rates.

Article IV.

1. The following rates of postage shall in all cases be required to be fully prepaid with postage stamps of the country of origin, viz:

2. For a parcel not exceeding four hundred and sixty grams or one pound in weight, twelve cents; and for each additional four hundred and sixty grams or one pound, or fraction thereof, twelve cents.

3. The packages shall be promptly delivered to addresses at the post-offices of address in the country of destination, free of charge for postage; but the country of destination may at its option, levy and collect from the addressee for interior service and delivery a charge not exceeding five cents on each single parcel of whatever weight; and if the weight exceeds four hundred and sixty grams or one pound, a charge equal to one cent for each one hundred and fifteen grams or four ounces, of weight, or fraction thereof.

Article V.

1. The sender will, at the time of mailing” the package, receive a receipt of mailing from the post-office where the package is mailed on a form like Model I annexed hereto.

2. The sender of a package may have the same registered by paying the registration fee required for registered articles in the country of origin.

3. An acknowledgment of the delivery of a registered article shall be retured to the sender when requested, but either country may require of the sender prepayment of a fee therefor not exceeding five cents.

4. The addressees of registered articles shall be advised of the arrival of a package addressed to them, by a notice from the post office of destination.

Article VI.

1. The sender of each package shall make a customs declaration, pasted upon or attached to the package, upon a special form provided for the purpose (see Model 2 annexed hereto) giving a general description of the parcel, an accurate statement of the contents and value, date of mailing, and the sender’s signature and place of residence, and place of address.

2. The packages in question shall be subject in the country of destination to all customs duties and all customs regulations in force in that country for the protection of its customs revenues; and the customs duties properly chargeable thereon shall be collected on delivery, in accordance with the customs regulations of the country of destination.

Article VII.

Each country shall retain to its own use the whole of the postages, registration, and delivery fees it collects on said packages; consequently, this convention will give rise to no separate accounts between the two countries.

Article VIII.

1. The packages shall be considered as a component part of the mails exchanged direct between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom, to be despatched by the country of origin to the other at its cost and by such means as it provides, in boxes prepared expressly for the purpose, or ordinary mail sacks, to be marked “Parcels post,” and to be securely sealed with wax or otherwise, as may be mutually provided by regulations hereunder.

2. Each country shall return to the despatching office by next mail all bags, boxes, or sacks used in the exchange of parcels.

3. Although articles admitted under this convention will be transmitted as aforesaid between the exchange offices, they should be so carefully packed as to be safely transmitted in the open mails of either country, both in going to the exchange office in the country of origin and to the office of address in the country of destination.

4. Each despatch of a parcel post mail must be accompanied by a descriptive list in duplicate of all the packages sent, showing distinctly the list number of each parcel, the name of the sender, the name of the addressee, with address of destination, and must be enclosed in one of the boxes or sacks of such despatch under the form of Model 3, annexed hereto.

Article IX.

Exchanges of mails under this convention from any place in either country to any place in the other shall be effected through the post-offices of both countries already designated as exchange post-offices, or through such others as may be hereafter agreed upon, under such regulations relative to the details of the exchanges, as may be mutually determined to be essential to the security and expedition of the mails and the protection of the customs revenues.

Article X.

1. As soon as the mail shall have reached the exchange office of destination that office shall check the contents of the mails.

2. In the event of the parcel bill not having been received a substitute should at once be prepared.

3. Any errors in the entries on the parcel bill which may be discovered shall, after verification by a second officer, be correct and noted for report to the despatching office on a form, “verification certificate,” which shall be sent in the special envelope.

4. If a parcel advised on the bill be not received, after the non-receipt has been verified by a second officer, the entry on the bill should be canceled and the fact reported at once.

5. Should a parcel be received in a damaged or imperfect condition full particulars shall be reported on the same form.

6. If no verification certificate or note of error be received a parcel mail shall be considered as duly delivered, having been found on examination correct in all respects.

Article XI.

If a package can not be delivered as addressed, or is refused, the sender will be communicated with through the central administration of the office of destination as to the manner in which he desires the package to be disposed of, and if no reply is received from him within a period of three months from the date of the notice, the package may be sold for the benefit of whom it may concern.

An order for redirection or reforwarding must be accompanied by the amount due for postage necessary for the return of the article to the office of origin, at the ordinary parcel rates.

When the contents of a parcel which can not be delivered are liable to deterioration or corruption, they may be destroyed at once, if necessary, or if expedient, sold, without previous notice or judicial formality, for the benefit of the right person, the particulars of each sale being noticed by one post-office to the other.

Article XII.

The Post-Office Department of either of the contracting countries will not be responsible for the loss or damage of any package, and no indemnity can consequently be claimed by the sender or addressee in either country.

Article XIII.

The Postmaster-General of the United States of America and the postmaster-general of the Hawaiian Kingdom shall have authority to jointly make such further regulations of order and detail as may be found necessary to carry out the present convention from time to time; and may by agreement prescribe conditions for the admission to the mails of any of the articles prohibited by Article II of this convention

Article XIV.

This Convention shall be ratified by the contracting countries in accordance with their respective laws, and its ratifications shall be exchanged at the City of Washington as early as possible. Once ratified, and its ratifications exchanged, it shall take effect, and operations thereunder shall begin on the 1st day of March, 1889, and shall continue in force until terminated by mutual agreement, but may be annulled at the desire of either Department upon six months previous notice given to the other.

Done in duplicate, and signed at Washington the 19th day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.

[seal.]	Don M. Dickinson, Postmaster-General of the United States of America.
[seal.]	H. A. P. Carter, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

The foregoing Parcels Post Convention between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom has been negotiated and concluded with my advice and consent, and is hereby approved and ratified.

In testimony whereof I have caused the Great Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.

[seal.]

Grover Cleveland.

By the President:
T. F. Bayard,
Secretary of State.

Washington, D. C., January 29, 1889.

The foregoing Parcels Post Convention between the Hawaiian Kingdom and the United States of America has been negotiated and concluded with my advice and consent, and is hereby approved and ratified.

In testimony whereof I have caused the Great Seal of the Hawaiian Kingdom to be hereunto affixed.

[seal.]

Kalakaua, Rex

By the King:
Jona. Austin,
Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Honolulu, January 10, 1889.

Form No. 1.

Parcel post.

Form No. 2.

Parcel post between the United States and Hawaii.

Form No. 3.