After the investigation, the minister to Hawaii was replaced by Albert Willis, who began negotiations with the deposed monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani, for a US led invasion to restore the monarchy.

[3] On December 14, 1893, Albert Willis arrived in Honolulu aboard the USRC Corwin unannounced, this caused anticipation of an American invasion to restore the monarchy.

As the anticipation of a conflict intensified in Honolulu, Irwin became concerned for American citizens and property in the city, considering he may actually have to land troops to protect them if violence erupted in retaliation for the crisis.

To Cleveland, this was an improvement; avoiding annexation left the potential to restore the monarchy and was more favorable in keeping Hawaii an independent country than as a territory of the United States.

The independent New York Herald wrote: "If Minister Willis has not already been ordered to quit meddling in Hawaiian affairs and mind his own business, no time should be lost in giving him emphatic instructions to that effect.

"[citation needed] The Republican New York Tribune called Willis' trip a "forlorn and humiliating failure to carry out Mr. Cleveland's outrageous project".