No. 163.
Mr. von
Alvensleben to Mr. Bayard.
Washington , February 22, 1886. (Received February 23.)
The undersigned, Imperial German Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary, has been instructed to inform the United States Government, officially, that the groups known as the Marshall, Brown and Providence Islands, situated in the eastern portion of the Caroline group, have been placed under the protection of His Majesty the Emperor and King, in pursuance of treaties concluded with the chiefs of those islands (well-established rights of third parties to be duly respected), and that, in token that possession has been taken, the imperial flag has been raised there.
The undersigned, in having the honor to obey his instructions, avails himself, &c.