Jere Krischel at 07:27, 7 February 2006

2006-02-07T07:27:26Z

Ken Conklin at 20:13, 31 January 2006

2006-01-31T20:13:05Z

Jere Krischel at 05:13, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T05:13:58Z

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1070 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
CHAIRMAN. Anything else?
MAOARTHUR. I have, by late steamer, reliable information that
there is danger that the reciprocity treaty with the United States
will be repealed unless the present tension is relieved. The imports
from the United States under that treaty in 1892 amounted to
$3,838,359.91. Nearly all this was admitted to Hawaii free, whereas
as to other competing countries the Hawaiian tariff ranges from 10 to
25 per cent on such imports. With the abrogation of the reciprocity
treaty goes the privilege of our acquiring the Pearl Lochs for a naval
station.
There are 915,000 acres of crown lands. The rental from these is
stated at about $75,000 annually. The Provisional Government has
them now. In addition the other Government lands are 851,071
acres, valued at $1,729,700, on which there is a yearly rental paid to
the Provisional Government from portions leased of $58,863.
SWORN STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL GEORGE BELKNAP.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your profession ?
Mr. BELKNAP. I am a rear-admiral in the Navy, on the retired list.
The CHAIRMAN. We are interested to know, and I think the people
of the United States are very much interested in knowing, whether the
Hawaiian group of islands, with its base, and particularly Pearl Harbor,
is of real importance to this country and its defense in a military and a
naval sense; and, if you think it is, or if it is not, what are the general
reasons on which you predict that opinion ?
Mr. BELKNAP. I think it is a matter of prime importance to the people
of the United States to acquire those islands. I think, in view of
the present state of affairs, the coming growth of the population of
the Pacific coast, and especially when the Nicaraguan Canal shall have
been completed, that those islands will form the most important commercial
and strategic point in the Pacific Ocean. I think it would be a
suicidal policy on the part of the United States to allow Great Britain
or any other European power to get any foothold on those islands.
The CHAIRMAN. That policy seems to have been anticipated on the
part of the United States for perhaps forty or fifty years, so that the
question would then arise, of course, whether it would be better for us
in the sense of protecting our commerce and our coast to assume the
control of the Hawaiian group of islands, in order that we might there
establish our naval station and have in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
a means of offense and defense against the fleets of Europe and Asia?
Mr. BELKNAP. I think we ought to assume control right away. And
as to the fleets of Europe attacking those islands, I think they have
their hands full in looking out for their own interests in other parts of
the world.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been on the islands ?
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes; I have been there twice.
The CHAIRMAN. And I suppose you have some acquaintance with
Pearl Harbor?
Mr. BELKNAP. I never went to Pearl Harbor.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you know where it is located?
Mr. BELKNAP. I know where it is located.
The CHAIRMAN. And its general character!
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes, sir.
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 1071
The CHAIRMAN. And you also have a general acquaintance with the
Bay of Honolulu?
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes; in my judgment Honolulu is one of the easiest
defended ports in the world. They talk about ships attacking that
harbor, the fact is they can not do it successfully. A few heavy guns
properly located would keep them away.
The CHAIRMAN. YOU speak of the rim of mountains back of Honolulu?
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes; Punch Bowl and other mountains back of Honolulu.
It is constantly rising ground back of the-city.
The CHAIRMAN. DO you think it would be ieasible to establish batteries
around on the reef in Honolulu Bay?
Mr. BELKNAP. NO ; it is not feasible. It is only a half mile from
shore, and that would not be necessary.
The CHAIRMAN. With long-range artillery would we be able to give
the harbor any perfect protection?
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes. They talk about long-range guns. It is all
nonsense. They can not get the range on ship that they can on shore.
I landed a force in Honolulu in 1874 and kept it there a week. That
was when Kalakaua was elected King. If you will allow me I will tell
you the circumstances.
The CHAIRMAN. I think that is what Senator Frye desires to examine
you about. Proceed with your statement.
Mr. BELKNAP. I arrived there on the Tuscarora from San Diego.
We had been engaged in making deep-sea soundings. We arrived at
Honolulu on the 3d of February, 1874. As we went into the harbor
we noticed a throng of people on the wharf and streets. As soon as
the pilot came on board we learned that King Lunalilo had just died.
It was too late to call on the minister that day, but at 10 o'clock the
next morning I went on shore. The minister was then Mr. Henry A.
Pierce.
The CHAIRMAN. From what State was he?
Mr. BELKNAP. Massachusetts. He had been in Honolulu for many
years, and he made a fortune. He came back to the United States and
lost it. Then Gen. Grant made him minister. Mr. Pierce told me that
the Legislative Assembly would meet on the 12th of that month, and
would elect a successor to King Lunalilo, he having died without
designating his successor. It became necessary therefore under the
constitution that the Legislature should elect the King. Mr. Pierce
said there were two candidates in the field; one was David Kalakaua,
the son of a high chief; the other a widow of Kamehameha IV—Queen
Emma. There were large numbers of natives and a great body of
Americans who favored Kalakaua as being the better person for
American interests, while some of the natives, and particularly those
belonging to the English church, and the greater part of the English
people, headed by the British minister, wanted Queen Emma. Mr. Pierce
said he thought there would be trouble, and wanted to know if I would
land a force in case it were necessary to do so.
The CHAIRMAN. I want to ask right there whether or not there was
a distinctive British influence in Hawaii, as there was an American
interest, and were they controverting with each other for the real control
of the politics of the islands?
Mr. BELKNAP. I think that was undoubtedly the case. Mr. Wodehouse,
the British commissioner, was there. He is now the minister.
He has been there over thirty years. for a number of years; I think he has been there

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Jere Krischel at 07:27, 7 February 2006

Ken Conklin at 20:13, 31 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 05:13, 12 December 2005