Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880

No. 228.
Mr. Evarts to Mr. Hitt.

Department of State,
Washington, March 3, 1880.

No. 217.]

Sir: This Department was informed by a note from the legation of France in this city, dated the 29th of September last, that that republic had just adopted regulations in regard to the right of sailing under the flag of the French protectorate among the Society Islands, allowing foreign captains of all nationalities to command vessels fitted out under that flag, upon certain conditions as to the character and capacity of the officers in question, and imposing submission to the laws of France, so far as regards their conduct and acts while commanding vessels under the protectorate.

It now appears from a dispatch from Mr. At water, the consul of the United States at Tahiti, No. 145, dated the 31st of December last, that foreigners are required to pay one hundred dollars per annum while navigating under the protectorate flag, which is not required of French or natives. In view of this discrimination, which does not seem to be warranted by anything contained in the French minister’s note above mentioned, you are hereby instructed to apply in the proper quarter for a copy of the regulations in question, for the use of this Department, in order that it may be determined whether any action is necessary upon the part of this government for the protection of the rights of American citizens in the Society Islands.

I inclose herewith, for your information, a copy of Mr. Outrey’s note of the 29th of September last^*, and also of Mr. At water’s dispatch No. 145.

I am, &c.,

WM. M. EVARTS.

[Inclosure in No. 217.]

Mr. Atwater to Mr. Hunter.

United States Consulate,
Tahiti, December 31, 1879. (Received February 28.)

No. 145.]

Sir: Dispatch No. 79 has been received.

In reply I have to state that the permission from the French Government allowing foreigners to navigate under the protectorate flag was promulgated here some time ago.

Foreigners are required to pay $100 per annum while navigating under the protectorate flag, which is not required of French nor natives. This seems unjust, when it is taken into consideration that there is but one vessel owned by French subjects, and that nine-tenths of all the commerce here is and always has been transacted by others than the French.

I am, &c.,

DORENCE ATWATER.

1. See correspondence with the French Legation in Washington, post, p. 379.