Mr. Willis to Mr. Gresham.

No. 107.]

Sir: In my No. 105, of the 2d instant, I informed you of the receipt of your No. 65, of February 21 last, in regard to Mr. Thurston, late Hawaiian minister at Washington, and the communication of its contents to this Government.

I have the honor now to inclose herewith copy of a note from this [Page 880] Government, dated the 3d instant and received to-day, the substance of which was sent you by telegram of this date.

I also inclose copy of my note of acknowledgment.

With assurances, etc.,

Albert S. Willis.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 107.]

Mr. Hatch to Mr. Willis.

Sir: Referring to our interview on the 30th ultimo, in which you intimated that the President of the United States would be pleased if the Hawaiian minister at Washington should be recalled for personal reasons, and upon which occasion you read to me a dispatch from the Secretary of State to yourself on this subject, dated February 21, but which had been sent to Japan by mistake, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. Thurston is now in Hawaii and will not return to the post of Hawaiian minister at Washington.

I regret extremely that the presence in Washington of the late minister is no longer agreeable, and that the matters referred to by the Secretary of State should have been considered of sufficient gravity to call for the action taken.

I have, etc.,

Francis M. Hatch.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 107.]

Mr. Willis to Mr. Hatch.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt to-day of your note of the 3d instant relating to the termination of the mission of Hon. L. A. Thurston, late minister from your Government to the United States. From it I quote the following:

Referring to our interview on the 30th ultimo, in which you intimated that the President of the United States would he pleased if the Hawaiian minister at Washington should he recalled, for personal reasons, and upon which occasion you read to me a dispatch from the Secretary of State to yourself on this subject, dated February 21, but which had been sent to Japan by mistake, * * *

As this passage may lead to a misconception of what occurred, of which I have already informed my Government, you will permit me to recall the fact that the interview referred to by you was limited to the reading of the dispatch of my Government, an explanation of its apparent miscarriage to Hongkong, and the declaration that the regret expressed in the dispatch at the incident was shared by me.

I will at once transmit your note to my Government for its consideration.

With assurances, etc.,

Albert S. Willis.