George W Kamehameha had heard rumors that Prime Minister Wilcox Might not run for re-election but he gave them no credit. He had a private conversation with his brother Charles who was now the Head of the Royal Bank of Hawaii. Charles was concern about the spending by the government and worried that it could create real problems for the Kingdom's economy. He agreed that he saw nothing to suggest that the Prime Minister was thinking of not running but noted that his wife said that Patricia Wilcox was unhappy with the amount of time that her husband was away and that the Wilcox era might be drawing to a close soon.
Peshawar Lancers Redux: Kingdom of Hawaii Revised
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In a private lunch at the Prime Minister's Office George W Kamehameha and Prime Minister Christopher Wilcox discussed the upcoming National election and what legislation he hoped to accomplish. The Prime Minister was quite frank in his discussion and expressed amazement that George's father was able to serve for so long. Christopher stated that his wife had had it with al of the travel and the long hours. George stated that his mother felt the strain but that his father made her his partner in everything. She was glad when he retired. The Prime Minister then asked him would he run for Prime Minister and George smiled and said that he was considering it. He would support Wilcox with another term
1918 The Hawaiian Budget had finally been passed and several trade treaties were now having hearings. The Ireland Base Treaty was a revision to the agreement and would run for 25 years It was undergoing hearing by the House Armed Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The Administration was supporting the agreement but the Social Democratic Party was opposed to it. Since the National Conservatives had a Majority it was expected to pass but the Prime Minister was seeking support from the Liberal Democrats.Chairman George W Kamehameha had the support of all of the National Conservatives and almost alll of the Liberal Democrats on the Armed Services Committee.
The Liberal Democrat Party had now started to support what was considered the traditional foreign Policy of the Kingdom. Hawaii had a strong relationship with the British Commonwealth, Central American Republic, Empire of Brazil and the Kingdom of Ireland. It had also developed a special relationship with the United States during Prime Minister-ship of William Kamehameha. There had been some disagreement on defense policy between the two parties but this was mainly over types of warships to be built.
Late August 1918 Prime Minister Wilcox announced in an interview with Hawaii's Largest Newspaper that he would seek another term as Prime Minister in 1920. He was concern with the situation in Asia and in Europe. He had approved of the Irish Government's attempt to prevent a war between Russia and the Austro-German-Polish Alliance. The Irish Envoy had made some progress and hoped to return with additional proposals after talkins with the Austrian, German, Polish and British governments
1920 The Elections are barely 7 months into the future when word comes that the Former Prime Minister of Hawaii ,who is vacationing in Ireland is seriously ill. George W receives the telephone call and makes arrangements to leave by airship to Ireland with brother Charles B Kamehameha and his sister the Doctor. The Prime Minister has authorized a Naval vessel to leave for Ireland and to be prepare to transport the former Prime Minister home to Hawaii. Admiral William Kamehameha II will leave for Ireland as soon as he can but National Security must come first.
George arrived in Ireland with his brother and sister and they rushed to the Hospital in Dublin. While George and Charles comforted their mother their sister spoke with the doctors. Since she was also a medical professional they were able to explain clearly what they had done. The patient was clearly in serious medical trouble. She clearly was disturbed by the inability to improve things. She wished that her father was in Hawaii but that was not to be . he could not travel by air.
The Hawaiian Naval vessel dispatched from Hawaii to Ireland was proceeding through the America Canal. It had cleared Hawaii in record time and was setting a record for traveling to Ireland. The medical team on board was being advised of the former Prime Minister's condition by a special radio connection with the Hospital. Admiral William Kamehameha II had left for Ireland by airship and was briefed by Radio on his farther's condition. He had spoken to his brother George and Charles but not his sister, as she was too busy with their father's care. The Admiral's wife was also aboard.
Prime Minister Wilcox announced that after consultation with the governments of Brazil and Portugal that Hawaii would be removing its Military engineers from Portugal as it had accomplished all of the task that had been put before them. Twenty personnel would remain to help the government of Portugal with some final projects but even they would be gone by 1921.
William Kamehameha was rushed by Ambulance to the University of Hawaii Medical Center. Five days after arriving he was operated on and his condition was listed as guarded.He remained in the hospital and was able to cast his ballot for his son. He continued to hang on through the holiday season but on January 15,1921 the doctors at the Hospital announced the passing of one of the Giants of Hawaiian history. The young King announced 30 days of mourning.
The Funeral of William Kamehameha was filmed and was broadcast over the Hawaiian Radio network so people throughout the kingdom could listen. All of the Kamehameha children were there as well as some of the Grandchildren. The King/Emperor of the British Empire and his wife were present, The Prime Ministers of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Brazil. Portugal, Ireland, Austria,Italy, France, Netherlands, Neuva Granada, President of Central American Republic, former President Theodore Roosevelt, Chinese Prime Minister,Crown Prince of Empire of the Rising Sun, Hawaiian Royal Family and the Prime Minister of Hawaii and the Cabinet. Admiral William Kamehameha II delivered some memories of his father and the family and then George and his sisters followed. Finally Prime Minister Christopher Wilcox delivered the final remarks about a man who had given everything for Hawaii. He told the people that one of the last things that he had done was to tell him that in holding the office of Prime Minister he held the peoples trust and never lie to them, consider all of them like members of your family. May God Bless us all. And with that the mass moved along and then William left with a military escort for burial. Many people could be seen crying along the road side.
Prime Minister Wilcox in 1922 suffered a heart attack and as a result the National Conservative Party had to immediately seek someone that could replace him. The Party turned to George W Kamehameha Chairman of the Armed Services Committee and son od the late Prime Minister William Kamehameha. George agreed to take the post after talking with the current Prime Minister's Wife and his doctors. He then drove to the Palace and submitted documents indicating that he was the Choice of the house to replace Christopher Wilcox.
Prime Minister George W Kamehameha was now the Prime Minister of Hawaii he had not expected to hold the office for another 2 plus years but circumstances had changed things. He received a phone call from the American President and from the Prime Ministers of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Countries like Brazil and Ireland already knew where he stood on issues. He decided that he would seek to replace his Secretary of State with someone who he was more in tune with. Richard Nufreo was a friend who he asked to take the job. He submitted his name to the Foreign Relations Committee of the house. He asked his brother Charles B Kamehameha to take the post of Budget director for the next six months and he took leave from his position as Chairman of the Royal Bank of Hawaii for a year as he expected that the job might take longer.
In His first foreign trip as Prime Minister he traveled to the Empire of the Rising Sun and then the Republic of China. While in the Republic of China the Prime Minister was introduced by the Chinese President to the Russian Foreign Minister. The two men chatted for 20 minutes and met the next day at the Chinese Foreign Ministry.