Comly to Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, June 5, 1882

No. 177. Mr. Comly to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit correspondence with Peter Cush-man Jones, esq., an American merchant, planter, shipper, and sugar factor residing at Honolulu, as to the present status of Americans who have taken the oath of allegiance to Hawaiian kings (inclosures 1 and 2).

There are a number of verbal applications of the same sort.

The apprehension of wasteful legislation by the ignorant natives who now control the politics of the country through the efforts of white and native demagogues to stir up hatred against the more prosperous foreigner, has moved some of the Americans, who, like Mr. Jones, are most largely interested in business here, to seek such protection of the American flag.

The status of these men becomes a matter of importance, and I respectfully ask an instruction from the Secretary of State on this point.

I have, &c.,