Letter from Earl Nielsen to President Harry S. Truman with a Reply from Matthew Connelly

400 Hawaii January 25, 1951. statehood miss Dear Mr. Nielsen: The President has asked me to thank you and Mr. Bens for your letter of January ninth concerning statehood for Hawaii. The President continues to be strongly in favor of statehood for Hawaii and, for his part, I am sure that he has no intention of agreeing to a compromise that would not provide statehood. With best regards, Sincerely yours, MATTHEW J. CONNELLY Secretary to the President Mr. Earl A. Nielsen, + Democratic Party of Hawaii, X 300 Hawaii, N Room 318, 49 S. Hotel Street, Honolulu, Hawaii. V January 22, 1951 MEMORANDUM FOR: The Files Inter Office hald Ltr. to the President fr. Democratic Party of Hawaii dated n January 9th and signed by Earl A. Nielsen, Vice Chairman of the Territorial Central Committee and David A. Benz, Secretary of the Territorial Central Committee. States Committee is opposed to compromise on issue of statehood for Hawaii. Especially opposed to acceptance of half measures such as one permitting them to elect own governor. Such a measure would only serve to delay statehood indefinitely. Referred to Mr. Murphy by M.J.C. without comment. acm 3 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF HAWAII ROOM 318, 49 SOUTH HOTEL STREET HONOLULU, HAWAII pm 1-15-51 January 9, 1951 The President Chus marghy White House Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: and As officers forming the majority of the executive group of the Territorial Central Committee, please permit us to affirm once again that as Democrats we are unalterably opposed to any compromise on the issue of statehood for Hawaii. We must have statehood with all of its responsibilities and pri- vileges -- we cannot accept any half measures such as the one that would permit us to elect our own governor. Such a measure would not change the position of Hawaii in the Union of States, and would merely serve to delay statehood indefinitely. The Democrats of Hawaii ask that Hawaii's people be treated as Americans, which they have proved themselves to be; we ask that we no longer be treated as second-rate citizens permitted only certain res- tricted privileges of American citizenship. Hawaii's contribution to the national effort in World War II and now in Korea is beyond question. Men of Hawaii are fighting in Korea just as our men from the States. The people of Hawaii support the National Administration without reserva- tion in its battle against Communism everywhere. The people of Hawaii deserve full statehood --- and we ask that the campaign for statehood be prosecuted with all vigor and energy in keeping with the stated determination of the President, the Honorable Oscar L. Chapman and the Democratic National Committee. Respectfully yours, Sarl D.Ailse Earl A. Nielsen, Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman Territorial Central Committee Democratic Party of Hawaii Lavid A.Bens. David Aox Benz, Secretary Territorial Central Committee Democratic Party of Hawaii UA MAU KA EA OKA AINA IKA PONO Motto of Hawaii