U.S. Minister Albert S. Willis to

U.S. Secretary of State Walter Q. Gresham

concerning the Consent of Queen Liliuokalani

to the Condition of Restoration of the

Hawaiian Kingdom Government

 

Legation of the United States,

Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, December 20, 1893.

           

Sir:  On Monday afternoon at 6 p.m., before the report of the Washington Place interview, referred to in my dispatch, No. 15, of December 19, had been written from the stenographic notes, Mr. Carter called at the legation and read to me a note to him, just received from the Queen, in which she unreservedly consented, when restored as the constitutional sovereign, to grant amnesty and assume all obligations of the Provisional Government.

           

On yesterday (Tuesday) morning at 9 o’clock Mr. Carter brought a letter from the Queen, a copy of which I inclose, and an agreement signed by her, binding herself, if restored, to grant full amnesty, a copy of which I inclose.

           

Very respectfully,       

                                                                       

Albert S. Willis.

 

Inclosures

 

Washington Place,

Honolulu, December 18, 1893.

           

Sir:  Since I had the interview with you this morning I have given the most careful and conscientious thought as to my duty, and I now of my own free will give my conclusions.

        

I must not feel vengeful to any of my people.  If I am restored by the United States I must forget myself and remember only my dear people and my country.  I must forgive and forget the past, permitting no proscription or punishment of any one, but trusting that all will hereafter work together in peace and friendship for the good and for the glory of our beautiful and once happy land.

        

Asking you to bear to the President and to the Government he represents a message of gratitude from me and from my people, and promising, with God’s grace, to prove worthy of the confidence and friendship of your people,

        

I am, etc.,

Liliuokalani.

 

 

I, Lili‘uokalani, in recognition of the high sense of justice which has actuated the President of the United States, and desiring to put aside all feelings of personal hatred or revenge and to do what is best for all the people of these Islands, both native and foreign born, do hereby and herein solemnly and pledge myself that, if reinstated as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands, that I will immediately proclaim and declare, unconditionally and without reservation, to every person who directly or indirectly participated in the revolution of January 17, 1893, a full pardon and amnesty for their offenses, with restoration of all rights, privileges, and immunities under the constitution and the laws which have been made in pursuance thereof, and that I will forbid and prevent the adoption of any measures of proscription or punishment for what has been done in the past by those setting up or supporting the Provisional Government.

I further solemnly agree to accept the restoration under the constitution existing at the time of said revolution and that I will abide by and fully execute that constitution with all the guaranties as to person and property therein contained.

I furthermore solemnly pledge myself and my Government, if restored, to assume all the obligations created by the Provisional Government, in the proper course of administration, including all expenditures for military or police services, it being my purpose, if restored, to assume the Government precisely as it existed on the day when it was unlawfully overthrown.

Witness my hand this 18^th of December, 1893.

Liliuokalani.

Attest:

J.O. Carter.