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 When this fact became public the Japanese government, through its minister in Washington, sent to the Secretary of State a protest against the annexation, on the ground, first, that the maintenance of the independence of Hawaii was essential to the good understanding of the powers having interests in the Pacific; second, that annexation would tend to endanger the rights of Japanese subjects resident in Hawaii secured by treaty; and, third, that it might postpone the settlement of Japanese claims against Hawaii. To the statement of the Secretary of State that Japan had made no protest against the treaty of 1893, the answer was that since that date the enlargement of the interests of Japan and its expanding activities in the Pacific had created a very different situation. The Japanese population in Hawaii had so increased as to exceed the native inhabitants; and since the war with China the Japanese in the islands had become quite self-assertive, and their government so positive in the enforcement of the claims of its subjects as to alarm seriously the Hawaiian republic. Assurances, however, being given that Japanese treaty rights and pending claims should