No. 177.
Mr. West to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, August 11, 1884.
(Received August 12.)
Sir: I have the honor to submit to you herewith
a memorandum on the state of the labor traffic in the Western Pacific
islands, and the steps which it is proposed to take to lessen the abuses
which have arisen in connection with it. I feel confident that, in the
interests of humanity, you will give this subject the consideration
which its importance merits, and which you will not fail to
appreciate.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.]
memorandum.
The state of the labor traffic in the Western Pacific islands has
recently engaged the serious attention of the colonial governments
interested, and of Her Majesty’s Government, and steps are being
taken which it is hoped may tend to lessen the abuses which have
arisen.
One of the first evils with which they have had to contend is the
indiscriminate sale of arms, ammunition, dynamite, and alcohol to
the islanders, and in the interests of humanity it is sought to
prevent the supply of such articles. They have come to the
conclusion that the best way of putting an end to a trade so
injurious to the populations [Page 254] of these islands would he by international agreement, to which
the great powers and the United States should be parties.
Her Majesty’s Government, therefore, would be glad to know whether
the Government of the United States would be willing to enter into
such an agreement.
Washington, August 11,
1884.
