Mr. Bayard to Mr. Coleman.
Washington, November 21, 1888.
Sir: On Monday morning last, the 19th instant, I was waited upon at this Department by Count Arco, the German minister at this capital, who began his statement with the assurance that his Government desired to act in relation to Samoan affairs in a spirit of friendliness and comity towards the United States. He then said that in this spirit he had been instructed by Count Bismarck to inform me that, owing to the unsettled condition of affairs in the islands, the Imperial Government had ordered the German fleet to return to Samoan waters. I inquired whether there was any specific object in this action. On this point Count Arco stated that he was not in possession of any definite information. He stated that certain injuries had lately been committed by the warring natives to German subjects and property, and intimated that the American vice-consul at Apia, who at present is in charge of the consulate during the absence of the consul-general on leave in this country, had not abstained from interference in the local disputes. But when I asked him whether he was informed of any specific acts of improper interference on the part of the vice-consul, he was unable to state any.
I am therefore uninformed as to the instructions of the German fleet, and assume that they are not inconsistent with the assurance of the Imperial Councillor Holstein as to the desire of the German Government to protect German interests without seeking to control or thwart the action of the Samoan people in respect of their choice of a King.
In this relation you will recall my telegraphic instructions of the 1st ultimo, in which it was stated that our Samoan advices reported the overthrow of Tamasese by Mataafa, who had been declared King by nearly the whole population and was gaining accessions constantly; and in which you were instructed to ascertain whether such news had been also received at the foreign office. I further said that it was assumed that the treaty powers would, in conformity with their joint understanding, respect the choice of the Samoan people, as this Government intended to do.
To this you replied, on the 3d ultimo, that you had seen Privy Councillor Holstein, at the time in charge of the foreign office, who stated that substantially the same news had been received by his Government, and that the chancellor of the Empire had telegraphed the German consul at Apia to confine himself to the protection of life and property of German subjects, and to telegraph if they were threatened. Privy Councillor Holstein added that he himself was quite satisfied that it was a matter of indifference to the German Government who was King of Samoa, if the interests of Germany were protected.
These statements were received by me with satisfaction, as being in entire accord with this Government’s understanding as to the policy to be pursued by the treaty powers in request to Samoan affairs.
Since it is expected that our consul-general, Mr. Sewall, will soon return to his post, it is proper to advert to the fact that in the course of our conversation Count Arco referred to an alleged newspaper interview with Mr. Sewall since he had been in the United States, in which he was reported to have expressed sentiments of ill-will towards Germany. [Page 180] I informed Count Arco that Mr. Sewall had disavowed to me the sentiments attributed to him in the publication referred to, which had been brought by me to his attention, and assured me that he had not employed the language imputed to him. I have every reason to believe that Mr. Sewall is animated with a sincere desire to exert himself in every proper way to facilitate and promote the termination of the unhappy disorders in Samoa and the establishment of a more desirable condition of affairs, and that he would always be found disposed to lend a frank co-operation with his consular colleagues to that end.
It should be unecessary to repeat what has been so often stated heretofore, that the desire of this Government is to see a lawful and orderly condition of affairs established in Samoa, under a government freely chosen by the Samoan people. As to what chief may be at the head of that Government, it is to this Government a matter of indifference.
In concluding my conversation with Count Arco, I requested him to inform his Government of my desire that, if any cause of complaint should arise out of differences between the consuls at Apia, the matter should be taken up by their respective Governments and settled at once directly between them and not be left to be the subject of contention in Samoa.
I am, etc.,