Neither the demands nor the settlement proposed permanent British rule, and Aberdeen had already committed the government to recognizing the existing Hawaiian sovereign. American and British naval officers socialized throughout the apparent confrontation, helping defuse any risk of a battle between their ships. Paulet accepted the limits he had set and yielded authority as soon as Thomas arrived. In the longer term, Britain increasingly moved away from relying on merchants who combined personal business with diplomatic office.
Notable Point · 1:34:56-1:37:40
Britain rejected annexation and moved toward professional diplomats
British policy consistently favored Hawaiian independence, while the affair exposed the danger of giving private merchants consular authority.