Blount Report: Affairs in Hawaii
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HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 1299
considered unlawful, also that the officers and men under my command had assumed the same attitude.
These sensational reports are intended to influence public opinion in the United States and are entirely without
foundation. Since my arrival I have carefully avoided all expression of opinion except in conference with the U. S.
minister, and have ordered all my command to pursue a similar course. I may further add that Mr. Willis has never
given me the slightest hint that there was ever any intention on the part of the U. S. Government to use force in order
to restore the Queen. My own orders to preserve strict neutrality have been implicitly obeyed.
It has been asserted quite often that we were prepared to land, which is true, but our motives were intentionally
misconstrued, as Mr. Willis stated openly, and his statement was published that we would land solely for the
purpose, of suppressing riot, and to protect the lives and property of the defenseless.
Were it not for the course of the newspapers in their endeavor to influence public opinion in the United States, no
uneasiness would be felt, and business would go on as usual. I do not believe that ordinary business is seriously
affected, as is reported, but no new enterprises will be undertaken until there is some settled government.
The commanding officers of the Japanese cruiser Naniwa Kan and the British cruiser Champion called on me to
arrange for landing a force to protect the lives and property of their countrymen in case there should be any serious
riot. They offered to cooperate with me and to place their landing parties where, in my opinion, they would do the
most good.
Now, as the general public in Honolulu is fully aware of the above fact, and have no longer any apprehension of any
riot, and, as the perusal of the President's message has convinced every one that no force would be used to change
the Government, it is criminal for any one to make the misstatements referred to.
Foreign influence, inimical to the interests of the United States, is secretly at work here, as it is wherever we have
any trade interests and that influence will account for many of the misstatements in the papers.
I forward files of newspapers covering the period since last mail. The health of the crews of the vessels here remains
good.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John Irwin,
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy,
Commanding U. S. Naval Force, Pacific Station.
The Secretary of the Navy,
Navy Department, Washington, D. C.
Pacific Station,
Office Commander in Chief U. S. naval Force,
U. S. flagship Philadelphia,
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, January 3, 1894.
Sir : I have the honor to call the attention of the Department to the admirable discretion exercised by the officers and
men of this squadron under the most trying circumstances.
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