Jere Krischel at 07:39, 7 February 2006

2006-02-07T07:39:06Z

Ken Conklin at 20:49, 31 January 2006

2006-01-31T20:49:48Z

Jere Krischel at 05:14, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T05:14:14Z

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1074 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
instead of Queen Emma, because if she had been elected Queen her
influence would have been thrown in favor of England.
Senator FRYE. Still, as a United States naval officer, you did not
think you had any right to take sides in the light?
Mr. BELKNAP. NO; none whatever.
Sdilator FRYE. But if it resulted in the retention of Kalakaua you
would congratulate the American people upon that fact?
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes.
Senator FRYE. Have you been in various other places where troops
were landed!
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes.
Senator I-'RYE. Were they ever landed on the order of the minister?
Mr. BELKNAP. NO. When I commanded the Asiatic squadron Mr.
Swift said to me, "You would not obey my order to land troops?" I
said, "No; I could not do that; it is against the regulations—we are
ordered to maintain relations of the most cordial character with the
ministers and consuls of the United States, and when they make
requests we are obliged to consider them in all their light and bearings
and govern ourselves accordingly." We are responsible for our
acts to the Secretary of the Navy alone. That is the principle on
which I acted in Honolulu.
Senator BUTLER. If you were to receive an order from the Secretary
of the Navy to take an order from a minister would you obey him?
Mr. BELKNAP. The orders of the Secretary of the Navy are the
orders of the President of the United States.
Senator SHERMAN. Does not the Secretary of the Navy always
speak in the name of the President of the United States?
Mr. P»ELKNAP. Yes.
Senator FRYE. 1 read from Article xvmof the present Naval Regulations:
"The officer in command of a ship of war is not authorized to delegate
his power, except for the carrying out of the details of the general
duties to be performed by his authority. The command is his, and he
can neither delegate the duties of it to another nor avoid its burdens,
nor escape its responsibilities; and his 'aide or executive' in the exercise
of the power given to him for 'executing the orders of the commanding
officer,' must keep himself constantly informed of the commander's
opinions and wishes thereon, and whenever, and as soon as
he may be informed or is in doubt as to such opinion or wishes, he
must remedy such defect by prompt and personal application, to the
end that the authority of the captain may be used only to carry out
his own views, and that he may not be, by its unwarranted exercise,
in any measure relieved from his official responsibilities, which can
neither be assumed by nor fall upon any other officer."
Do you understand those to be the present regulations?
Mr. BELKNAP. Yes.
Senator FRYE. Then—
"He shall preserve, so far as possible, the most cordial relations
with the diplomatic and consular representatives of the United States
in foreign countries, and extend to them the honors, salutes, and other
official courtesies to which they are entitled by these regulations.
"He shall carefully and duly consider any request for service or
other communication from any such representative.
"Although due weight should be given to the opinions and advice
of such representatives, a commanding officer is solely and entirely
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 1075
responsible to his own immediate superior for all official acts in the
administration of his command. * * *
" On occasions where injury to the United States or to citizens thereof
is committed or threatened, in violation of the principles of interna^
tional law or treaty rights, he shall consult with the diplomatic representative
or consul of the United States, and take such steps as the
gravity of the case demands, reporting immediately to the Secretary
of the Navy all the facts. The responsibility for any action taken by
a naval force, however, rests wholly upon the commanding officer
thereof."
Now, suppose you wore in command of a ship in the harbor of Honolulu,
and. the Secretary of the Navy should send you an order to obey
the order of William P. Frye, then a resident in Honolulu and not in
the naval service, would you be obliged to obey any order of William
P. Frye?
Mr. BELKNAP. NO.
Senator FRYE. Would not that order which had been sent to you to
obey William P. Frye be illegal?
Mr. BELKNAP. I think it would be.
Senator FRYE. Suppose you were there with a ship, and a man by
the name of James II. Blount, whom you knew to be a commissioner
appointed by the President of the United States to remain in those
islands for certain purposes, should send you an order to land your
troops for any purpose, would you, as a naval officer, feel under the
slightest obligation to obey the order?
Mr BELKNAP. I would first demand his authority for issuing any
order of that sort.
Senator FRYE. Suppose you should ask his authority, and he should
read this to you:
"DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
" Washington, March 11, 1893.
"To enable you to fulfill this charge, your authority in all matters
touching the relations of this Government to the existing or other government
of the islands and the protection of our citizens therein is paramount;
in you alone, acting in cooperation with the commander of the
naval forces, is vested full discretion and power to determine when such
forces should be landed or withdrawn."
Suppose you should receive such an order as that from the Secretary
of the Navy, would you feel bound to obey such order?
Mr. BELKNAP. I should think that was in direct violation of the Regulations
of the U. S. Navy.
Senator PRYE. Then
"MARCH 11 1893.
" S I R : This letter will be handed you by the Hon. James H. Blount,
special commissioner by the President of the United States to the Government
of the Hawaiian Islands. You will consult freely with Mr.
Blount and will obey any instructions you may receive from him regarding
the course to be pursued at said islands by the force under your
command. You will also aft'ord Mr. Blount all such facilities as he may
desire for the use of your cipher code in communicating by telegraph
with this Government.
"HILARY A. HERBERT,
"Secretary of the Navy.
"Rear-Admiral J. S. SKERRETT,
"Commander in Chief U. S. Naval Forces, etc"

Template:1074-1075 - Revision history

Jere Krischel at 07:39, 7 February 2006

Ken Conklin at 20:49, 31 January 2006

Jere Krischel at 05:14, 12 December 2005