In response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 1st
instant, calling for certain information touching the recent
insurrection in the Hawaiian Islands, I transmit herewith a report of
the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers.
Grover Cleveland.
Executive
Mansion,
Washington, February 4,
1895.
To the President:
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the
House of Representatives, dated February 1, 1895, requesting the
President—
To transmit to the House of Representatives, if not
incompatible with the public interests, all correspondence,
documents, or other information, if any, in the possession
of the Government, in regard to arms having been furnished
by British subjects to persons in rebellion against the
Government of the Hawaiian Islands; or in regard to any
intervention by representatives of Great Britain to prevent
the application of martial law as proclaimed by said
Government to those concerned in said rebellion who claim to
be British subjects,
has the honor to report that the Department has no
information in regard to arms having been furnished by British
subjects to persons in rebellion against the Government of the
Hawaiian Islands; but, in a telegram from the United States minister
at Honolulu, January 11, forwarded by way of San Francisco, Mr.
Willis says: “Arms reported to have been brought from Vancouver by
Norma.”
[Page 1392]
This telegram and Mr. Willis’s dispatch, No. 81, of the same date,
were given to the press on their receipt. Copies are also hereto
appended.
Although not directly responsive to the resolution, copies are
submitted of correspondence exchanged with the United States
legation at Honolulu in regard to alleged filibustering movements
and apprehended shipments of arms from San Francisco in November
last.
The Department of State has no information in regard to any
intervention by representatives of Great Britain to prevent the
application of martial law as proclaimed by the Hawaiian Government
to those concerned in the recent rebellion who claim to be British
subjects, or of any foreign representations whatever in the case
other than a statement, contained in a note of the Hawaiian minister
to the undersigned under date of January 20 last, that “the British
commissioner at Honolulu, Mr. Hawes, has called upon the Government
of Hawaii to give him assurances that no capital punishment will be
inflicted upon the insurrectionists, there being fifteen Englishmen
under arrest, which requested assurance the Government has refused
to give.” Copies of this note of Mr. Thurston and of the reply of
the undersigned are also annexed.
Respectfully submitted.
W. Q. Gresham.
Department of
State,
Washington, February 4,
1895.
