HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
 
have occupied the government building and read their proclamation 
dethroning the Queen and establishing the Provisional Government he 
would recognize it. 
The committee of safety, recognizing the fact that the landing of 
the troops under existing circumstances could, according to all law 
and precedent, be done only on the request of the-existing Government, 
having failed in utilizing the Queen's cabinet, resorted to the new 
device of a committee of safety, made up of Germans, British, Ameri- 
cans, and natives. of foreign origin, led and directed by two native 
subjects of the Hawaiian Islands. 
With these leaders, subjects of the Hawaiian Islands, the American 
minister consulted freely as to the revolutionary movement and gave 
them assurance of protection from danger at the hands of the royal 
Government and forces. 
On January 17 the following communication, prepared at the station 
house, which is one-third of a mile from the Government building 
and two-thirds of a mile from the residence of the American minister, 
was sent to him: 
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 
Honolulu, January 17, 1893. 
His Excellency JoHN L. STEVENS, 
. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, etc.: 
S R:, Her Hawaiibn Majesty's Government, having been informed that certain
per- 
sons to themunnknown, have issued proclamation declaring a Provisional Go
vernnient 
to exist in opposition to Her Majesty's Government, and having pretended
to depose 
the Queen, her cabinet and marshal, and that certain treasonable persons
at present 
occupy the Government building in Honolulu with an armed force, and pretending

that your excellency, on behalf of the United States of America, has recognized
such 
Provisional Government, Her Majesty's cabinet asks respectfully, has your
excellency 
recognized said Provisional Government, and, if not, Her Majesty's Government
under 
the above existing circumstances respectfully requests the assistance of
your Govern- 
ment in preserving the peace of the country. 
We have the honor to be your excellency's obedient servants, 
SAMUEL PARKER, 
Minister Foreign Affairs. 
WM. H. CORNWELL, 
Minister of Finance. 
JOHN F. COLBURN, 
Minister of the Interior. 
A. P. PETERSON, 
A ttorney- General. 
In it will be observed the declaration that the Provisional Govern- 
ment is claiming to have had his recognition. The reply of Mr. Stevens 
i§ not to be found in the records or files of the legation, but on those

records appears the following entry: 
UNITED STATES LEGATION, 
Honolulu, January 17, 1893. 
About 4 to 5 p. m. of this date-am not certain of the precise time-the note
on 
file from the four ministers of the deposed Queen, inquiring if I had recognized
the 
Provisional Government, came to my hands while I was lying sick on the couch.

Not far from 5 p. m.-I did not think to look at my watch-I addressed a short
note 
to Hon. Samuel Parker, Hon. Win. H. Cornwell, Hon. John F. Colburn, and Hon.
A. 
P. Peterson, no longer regarding them as ministers, informing them that I
had rec- 
ognized the 'Provisional Government. 
JOHN L. STEVENS, 
United State8 Minister. 
This communication was received at the station house and read by 
all of the ministers and by a number of other person& 
After this Mr. Samuel K. Damon, the vice-president of the Provi- 
sional Government, and Mr. Bolte, a member of the advisory council, 
came to the station house and gave information of the proclamation 
 
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