“His Majesty the King has long realized the great importance of a submarine cable to his kingdom, as well as to all nations whose vessels and citizens visit there, and has authorized me, by advice of his Cabinet, to grant you, your associates and assigns, the exclusive privilege of landing a submarine cable or cables on any of the Hawaiian Islands, and for using the same for connection with the United States, or any other country, and crossing any or all of the islands, and this for the period of twenty-five years.
“Any land which you may find necessary to have for any of these purposes will be furnished by the government free of expense to you, not intended to include land for offices or houses.
“It is to be understood that if you do not within five years begin the construction of the cable necessary to connect the islands with the United States, and establish the connection within ten years, this grant is to cease.
“The King and Cabinet, having the greatest confidence in your ability and energy, anticipate the completion of the cable to the islands at an early day.
“I have the honor to be, sir,
“With great respect,
“Your obedient servant,
“Elisha H. Allen,
“His Hawaiian Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.”
It was on the evening of the 10th of March, 1879, that he said:
“One thing only remains which I still hope to be spared to see, and in which to take a part: the laying of a cable from San Francisco to the Sandwich Islands ... and from thence to Japan, by which the island groups of the Pacific may be brought into communication with the continents on either side—Asia and America—thus completing the circuit of the globe.”
Two months later this note was sent:
“New York, May 17, 1879.