No. 107.
Mr. Evarts
to Mr. Noyes
.
Washington , December 5, 1877.
Sir: Information has been received from Mr. Griffin, the consul of the United States at Apia, Samoa, that upon the 21st of September last the consulate was attacked by an armed mob, and himself forcibly ejected and not allowed to return or remove United States property until he consented under compulsion to haul down the flag and take away the coat of arms. He was then allowed to superintend the removal by the rioters of the archives and other property, which had been thrown into a very disordered state.
Upon the 24th of the same month the French man-of-war Le Seignelay arrived at Apia, and the consul requested the protection of her commander, Captain Aube, which was cheerfully given. On the 26th, the captain sent five men on shore to aid Mr. Griffin in arresting certain United States citizens who had taken part in the disturbances, but, as they were unable to effect their object, he arterward furnished him with forty men and one officer, for the same purpose. The captain also called upon the British and German consular officers to afford protection to their outraged colleague, but as they declined to do so, before leaving the island he was obliged to place the consul under the protection of [Page 166] the native authorities. In the mean time he had sheltered him upon the Le Seignelay.
You are therefore instructed to communicate these facts to the French Government, and to request that the thanks of the Government of the United States may be conveyed to Captain Aube for the friendly and serviceable assistance which he rendered to Mr. Griffin, the consul at Apia, upon the occasion referred to.
I am, &c.,