Peirce to Henry A. Peirce , United States, May 29, 1877

No. 166. Mr. Peirce to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Inclosed herewith is copy of a note from Mr. Carter, the Hawaiian minister of foreign affairs, dated May 24, instant, informing the legation that His Majesty’s chargé d’affaires in London had been instructed to give notice to the British Government of the desire of this government to terminate the fourth, fifth, and sixth articles of the treaty of 1852 between the two countries, and that said notice is now given, for the purposes set forth in the seventeenth article of said treaty.

Mr. Carter verbally informs me that this government is quite willing to consent that the treaty referred to shall remain intact, provided the British Government withdraws its demand for the enjoyment of the same rights and privileges as those granted under the reciprocity treaty between the United States and Hawaii. It will be observed that the British commissioner, in making the demand in question, did not propose to give any equivalent or compensation for the enjoyment of the rights demanded.

Very respectfully,