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Mr. Stevens. No; I did not say that. I presume I had. I think he called there on Sunday.
Senator Gray. On that Saturday or Sunday, when you had this conference with Capt. Wiltse, was it arranged that he should land the troops upon your making the request?
Mr. Stevens. The understanding was, if I did make the request, the troops would be landed.
Senator Gray. What was necessary?
Mr. Stevens. If it became necessary to land, that I would have to make the request. That was the official way, and I had the legation records before me running back twenty-five years. They could not land until the request came from me.
Senator Gray. When you went out to the ship, Capt. Wiltse was not surprised to have you make this request, because you had arranged with him before for such a contingency?
Mr. Stevens. Not at all.
Senator Gray. But you handed him the paper which you took out with you?
Mr. Stevens. The official paper which had been used time after time by my predecessors.
Senator Gray. And you have already stated that the arrangements were made then and there between you for the landing of the troops.
Mr. Stevens. Only contingently—if landed at all the request had to come from me. And Capt. Wiltse knew that as well as I did.
Senator Gray. After you left the Boston, I understood the arrangement was made between you for landing the troops, and you understood they would carry their camp equipage with them, and it would not be necessary that you should provide quarters for them?
Mr. Stevens. It never entered my mind; I took it for granted without consultation that the marines had their own tents.
Senator Gray. And you were there informed that a hall would have to be provided?
Mr. Stevens. Yes; and maps for the city.
Senator Gray. And when you left the ship it was understood that the troops were to march out to Mr. Atherton's place?
Mr. Stevens. They were to do exactly as was done in 1889; march through the streets and get a lodging as soon as they could.
Senator Gray. Was it understood that they were to go to Mr. Atherton's when you left the ship?
Mr. Stevens. I do not remember.
Senator Gray. Was Mr. Atherton talked about on the ship?
Mr. Stevens. I could not remember that; I think it was a mere casual idea—that Mr. Atherton had those extensive grounds, and was one of the leading American citizens, and they marched through the street to get grounds somewhere, and his grounds were large enough.
Senator Gray. Do you undertake to say it was not understood they were to go to Mr. Atherton's when they left the ship?
Mr. Stevens. I do not remember. Whatever it was, it was a mere incident, and with no special relation to anything in view. They had to go somewhere and secure a hall.
Senator Gray. When you sent the note of recognition to the Provisional Government, to whom did you send it?
Mr. Stevens. I have no doubt I sent it to the minister of foreign affairs. Mr. Dole, under their organization, was President and minister of foreign affairs. Of course, the official usage is to send such
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notes to the minister of foreign affairs. I have no doubt I sent it to the minister of foreign affairs. I presume I conformed to the custom.
The Chairman. Had you previously heard of the proclamation of the Provisional Government?
Mr. Stevens. Yes.
Senator Gray. Had you a copy of that proclamation?
Mr. Stevens. I can not say.
Senator Gray. Had you read that proclamation?
Mr. Stevens. I can not say that I had.
Senator Gray. Could you say that you had not?
Mr. Stevens. I could not say that I had not.
Senator Gray. Was any proclamation sent to you?
Mr. Stevens. Things had to be done very rapidly that afternoon. I had no clerk and I was a sick man, and it was impossible for me to make notes. I have no doubt I received the proclamation.
Senator Gray. And you can not say one way or the other whether a copy of that proclamation was sent to you?
Mr. Stevens. I can not; I presume so. Mr. Pringle brought me information and so did Mr. Carter, and so did others. I had it in various ways.
Senator Gray. Were you aware when it was sent to you that the terms of the Provisional Government were not settled until there was annexation to the United States?
Mr. Stevens. I did not understand that.
Senator Gray. Were you aware that the proclamation was so made?
Mr. Stevens. I never heard of it?
Senator Gray. Never heard of the proclamation?
Mr. Stevens. I did not know that that was the limit of the Provisional Government until this controversy of Mr. Thurston and Mr. Gresham.
Senator Gray. When you were acting for the Government, you did not understand the terms in which the Government you were about to recognize had been proclaimed?
Mr. Stevens. The only fact that I took under consideration was that it was a de facto Government, and if that de facto Government had proposed to annex to Mormondom I should have recognized it. I should have recognized it regardless of any ulterior purposes of that Government.
Senator Gray. In this important condition of affairs in Hawaii, you did not consider it necessary to examine the terms on which that Government was established?
Mr. Stevens. All I wanted to know was that it was a de facto Government, and that information I had.
Senator Gray. Where did you get it, except from the proclamation?
Mr. Stevens. From parties who came from the Government house and informed me, and I presume they sent a copy of the proclamation.
Senator Gray. Who were they?
Mr. Stevens. My impression is that Charles Carter was one and Mr. Pringle was another. Mr. Pringle was acting as my aid. Others gave me the information. Which one brought it first I could not swear. I think I first received the information from my daughter.
Senator Gray. What time in the afternoon did this fact come to your knowledge that the Provisional Government had been proclaimed?
Mr. Stevens. Probably—I can not say positively; I did not look at the watch—half past 2 or 3. It might have been earlier or a little later.
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