When we think of Cuba to-day, laid waste by fire and sword, with barren fields and starving people, we cannot help feeling that the causes must have been great which led to such a terrible sacrifice.

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The only news relating to Hawaiian matters this week is that Japan is seriously angry with us over the treatment her Minister at Washington has received at the hands of the Secretary of State.

It would seem that the Japanese are extremely precise and particular about the way their diplomatic affairs are conducted.

Their idea of what is necessary on such occasions is very different from ours, and unfortunately the Japanese Ministers both at Honolulu and Washington have not received the treatment that, according to their views, is due them.

Minister Hoshi, in Washington, is so indignant that he was not informed of the negotiations in regard to the treaty, that it is said he has asked to be recalled to Japan.

His displeasure has been increased by Secretary Sherman’s failure to reply to his letter asking for an explanation.

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We told you that England had been making arrangements with Portugal to secure Delagoa Bay, in South Africa, and that this contract, if concluded, would give Great Britain the control of the only port available for the people of the Transvaal.

President Krueger is, however, too clever a man to allow this to be done without making some effort to secure the port for himself.

We told you that Dr. Leyds had been sent to England by the Boer Government to arrange the trouble over the Transvaal Raid.

Dr. Leyds had a further commission, which he did not mention while he was in London.

This was to try and secure possession of Delagoa Bay for his own country.

He went to Paris, and organized a company to buy from Portugal certain lands in Africa which should include Delagoa Bay, its ports and customs.

To prevent England getting any knowledge of what was going on, the matter was arranged in Paris, and appeared on the surface to be a French speculation.

But it has come to light that the large sums of money which will have to be paid to conclude the matter are being subscribed in part by German financiers, and the rest by the National Bank of the Transvaal.

It seems that it is an arrangement between Germany and the Transvaal.

As we have told you before, Germany is quite friendly with the South African Republic, so much so that, at the time of the raid, the Emperor of Germany very much displeased the English people by sending President Krueger a telegram congratulating him on his victory over the raiders.

It is said that neither the English nor the Boer-German offer for Delagoa Bay has as yet been accepted by Portugal.

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