West Across the Pacific: American Involvement in East Asia from 1 ...

He did not know, though he might have guessed, that the Japanese minister in Washington, Hoshi Toru, had recommended what he called “my plan, which I believe to be the only means of frustrating scheme of Hawaiian annexation; that is, our occupation of that island by dispatching without any delay some powerful ships under the name of reprisal, taking advantage of present relationship between Japan and Hawaii.”³ The “present relationship” consisted of some 50,000 Japanese residents in Hawaii, as contrasted with less than 10,000 Americans, and some specific Japanese claims against the Hawaiian government for alleged treaty violations. Fortunately for all, Foreign Minister Okuma vetoed his minister’s plan and placed “our opposition within the limits of diplomacy…but within those limits we should be energetic and watchful and allow no opportunity to escape us.”⁴

Diplomacy went along, and ultimately the matter was resolved amicably. In return for the withdrawal of the Japanese protest, Sherman gave certain assurances, which Japan desired with regard to her specific claims and in the broader matter of possible discrimination against Japanese residents in the Islands. The United States, he said, could not “concede in advance Japan’s claims,” but in the event annexation was consummated, she would “endeavor to settle” them “with candor and fairness,” and as to the larger issues, Congress made the laws. However, Japan and the United States shared a long history of friendship, during which “this country has never shown any inclination to discriminate against Japanese subjects.”⁵

The Japanese, for their part, resisted temptation, even though Minister Hoshi reported that “a Senator who opposes annexation confidentially informed me that a proposition from the Japanese Government to guarantee Hawaiian independence jointly with the United States would defeat passage of such (annexation) measure” and the Japanese consul general at Honolulu reported that a “representative of anti-annexationists and royalists” had urged the same thing.⁶

Along with the accomplishment of annexation, which occurred by joint resolution of the House and Senate, the outgoing government of the Republic of Hawaii paid Japan $75,000 indemnity “in settlement of all claims,” and the Japanese Consul General at Honolulu accepted “with pleasure” the invitation to be present at Annexation Day ceremonies, August 12, 1898.⁷