Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 Kepakemapa 1983 — Chairman's Column [ARTICLE]

Chairman's Column

by Joseph Kealoha

The government of the United States has taken the extraordinary step of apologizing for the illegal and immoral actions of its duly appointed officials. A representative of the U.S. Justice Department stated "This is a matter of decency and of honorabIe conduct." The actions of the officials are called "incomprehensible and shameful" and a Justice Department memorandum makes the point that the U.S. government cannot disclaim responsibility for those involved. Those officials, it says ". . .were acting within the scope of their official duties. Their actions were taken not for personal gain or to shield them personally from liability or discipline, but to protect what they believed to be the interests of the United States Army and the United States government. Under these circumstance, whatever may be their personal culpability, the United States government cannot disclaim responsibility for their actions." I applaud that statement with great vigor and enthusiasm. I regret that the United States does not seem inclined to apply the same standard of behavior to the illegal and immoral actions of its officials during the 1893 overthrown of Queen Liliuokalani.

The apology was made to the government of France after it was revealed that intelligence officers helped Klaus Barbie, the "Butcher of Lyon", escape to Bolivia and avoid prosecution after World War 11. The Justice Department report said the "responsible officials" of the United States "interfered with the proper administration of justice." Now let me quote from another official U.S. government document, the so-called "majority report" of the Native Hawaiians Study Commission. ". . . Based on the information available to it, the Commission concluded that Minister John L. Stevens and certain other individuals occupying positions with the U.S. government participated in activities contributing to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy on January 17, 1893. The Commission was unable to conclude that these activities were sanctioned by the President or the Congress." The report finds that the overthrow ". . . was encouraged in part by the presence of one company of Marines and two companies of sailors (approximately 100 men) acting without authority from the United States government."

Did those sailors and marines just decide on their own one day to arm themselves and help overthrow a friendly and sovereign government? Well, no. The report admits that U.S. Minister Stevens, whose position was comparable to that of Ambassador, requested the commander of the U.S.S. Boston to dispatch the troops. Both the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy later were informed of this action and neither repudiated it. It is illogical and contradictory for the U.S. government to accept responsibility for the behavior of its officials in the Barbie case, while denying responsibility for the actions of its duly appointed representatives in Hawaii during the overthrow. As pointed out in the Study Commission's "minority report", "The international law of agency recognizes the authority of designated officials to act in the name with the power of their natipn. . .The authorizing government (i8) responsible for the actions of its agent — whether it approved or disapproved of such actions." The part played by the United States in supporting the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani, is a 90 year old blot on the honor of this country. In order to remove that blot, the U.S. first must acknowledge responsibility for the actions of its officials in 1893. In a few months, the Congress of the United States will hold hearings on the Native Hawaiians Study Commission report. Onee again, I eall for a joint congressional resolution whieh clearly acknowledges U.S. responsibility for the overthrow and whieh pledges a commitment to provide restitution for a wrongful act against the Hawaiian people.

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