American Plenipotentiaries at Washington, but which was subsequently rejected by Congress.
Monsieur de Vagny, Hawaiian Foreign Minister, confidentially informed me that should any objection be made by the U.S. Govt to treat on that basis: in view of the increased production of sugar in these islands, Mr Harris was instructed to negotiate on the basis of a reduced rate of duties, & to give up other Hawaiian produce, if necessary, Saving & Excepting sugar.
In answer to a question from me as to how far in his opinion, the parity clause of the Treaty of 1857, Art: IV would apply to such a condition, M. de Vagny replied, that he understood it to occur to Gt Britain the right of claiming the same advantages given to the U.S., on her conceding the same compensation but not otherwise.
I pointed out to M. de Vagny that out of the 19 articles, the produce of the Sandwich Is, Enumerated in Art: 1 of the Convention of 1855 with the U.S, Gt Britain had already some years ago admitted 7
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