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You request me to recognize said government on behalf of the Government of Peru as the de facto government of the Hawaiian Islands, and to afford to it the moral support of my Government.

I have the honor to state, in reply, that I take pleasure in complying with your request, and I hereby recognize the said government as the de facto government of the Hawaiian Islands, in so far as my authority in the premises will permit. I have the honor to remain, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

BRUCE CARTWRIGHT,

Consul for Peru.

Hons. SANFORD B. DOLE,

J. A. KING,

P. C. JONES,

WM. O. SMITH,

Members of the Executive Council of the Provisional Government of the Hawaiian Islands.

[Translation.]

CONSULATE AND COMMISSARIAT OF FRANCE IN HAWAII,

Honolulu, January 18,1893.

SIR: I have received the letter dated the 17th of this month by which you inform me that for the reasons indicated in the text of the proclamation which you handed to me on the same day, the members of the executive council, of which you are a part, have proclaimed, yesterday, the abrogation of the Hawaiian monarchy and the establishment of a provisional government.

In acknowledging the receipt of this communication I at once inform you that I have informed my Government of the events which have just taken place in this archipelago, adding that I recognize the actual condition of affairs pending instruction.

Accept, sir, the assurances of my most distinguished consideration,

VlZZAVONA.

Monsieur DOLE,

President of the Executive Council of the Provisional Government, Honolulu.

Senator GRAY. Were these printed contemporaneously with their recognition?

Mr. HOES. Yes. If it is desired I can state a very interesting point that I happen to know from personal knowledge in regard to the English recognition.

The CHAIRMAN. We are trying to ascertain when it was.

Mr. HOES. I was present in the room of the Provisional Government the first afternoon it was organized.

The CHAIRMAN. What date was that?

Mr. HOES. Saturday being the 14th, that was the 17th, Tuesday.

Senator GRAY. You were where?

Mr. HOES. As I said, I was present in the room of the Provisional Government the afternoon it held its first meeting, and while I was there the English commissioner, Maj. Wodehouse, came into the room and had a whispered conversation with President Dole which could not be heard, at least by me, and I do not think by anyone except the President. A short time after that, probably within one hour, I had

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a short conversation with Maj. Wodehouse on the porch of the Government house in which he told me that he had recognized the Provisional Government. I suppose, of course, the inference was he had done it informally. I state this because there was a delay of twentyfour hours, or more, before he recognized the Government in writing. While his formal recognition was not made as early as those of the other representatives in Honolulu, he was in reality the first to recognize the new government, with the possible exception of the U.S. minister, Mr. Stevens.

Senator FRYE. Were you there when Mr. Stevens sent in his recognition?

Mr. HOES. I suppose I was, but I cannot swear positively as to that.

Senator FRYE. But you think Mr. Wodehouse was the first one?

Mr. HOES. I do not know whether he preceded or succeeded Mr. Stevens.

Senator FRYE. What time was it that you were there and Mr. Wodehouse was there?

Mr. HOES. If I were asked what time Mr. Wodehouse had the whispered conversation with Mr. Dole I could not swear to it, but I should venture to say not far from 4 o'clock—in fact, probably after 4 o'clock.

The CHAIRMAN. Will you allow me to inquire what sort of a man Mr. Dole is? Give your description as you understand him. I would like to know something about his character and temper.

Mr. HOES. I am personally and intimately acquainted with President Dole. I regard him as mentally, morally, intellectually, and I may add, physically, one of the finest types of men I have ever met. He is broad minded; he is conservative; he is dispassionate; and I believe I state the opinion of most men in that country when I say that he is more highly looked up to and respected than any other man in public and political life in that country.

The CHAIRMAN. From your knowledge of his character and bearing, would you suppose that he would be engaged in a mere adventure for revolutionizing the country for the purpose of getting political power into his hands?

Mr. HOES. I do not think that any such thought or suggestion could enter the mind of any man living in Honolulu or the Hawaiian kingdom.

The CHAIRMAN. As to Dole?

Mr. HOES. As to President Dole.

Senator FRYE. Were you there from the 1st of January, 1893, until after the revolution?

Mr. HOES. I was.

Senator FRYE. You may state, if you please, what you observed as taking place in the Legislature of the Hawaiian Islands during the month of December preceding the revolution.

Mr. HOES. That is a pretty broad question. It was a continuous scene of disordry and disgracefulness.

Senator FRYE. In what particular?

Mr. HOES. Bribery, undignified wrangle, and a perpetual fight to upset one ministry and to replace it with another.

Senator FRYE. What ministry were they undertaking to upset?

Mr. HOES. I could not carry the names of the various ministers composing the several cabinets in my mind any more than I could the movements of the men in a game of chess.

Senator FRYE. You know the Wilcox-Jones cabinet?

Mr. HOES. Yes.