Mr. Bayard to Count von Arco-Valley.
Washington, January 5, 1889.
My Dear Count Arco: It is with great regret that I have to inform you of the news just received at this Department of the dangerous and deplorable condition of affairs at Samoa.
The commander of the United States naval forces in those waters has sent Lieutenant Hawley to New Zealand, who has telegraphed thence to-day on behalf both of the United States vice-consul-general at Samoa and of the naval commander there to the effect that three German war ships at Apia had threatened to disarm Mataafa, and had landed at Lalengo to prevent Mataafa’s retreat; that an engagement [Page 186] had followed in which the Germans were defeated with a loss of twenty killed and thirty wounded; that the Germans in revenge were shelling and burning native villages; that neutral property was not respected; that all protests were unheeded; that the lives and property of for eigners were in danger, and that the Germans did not respect the neutral territory. Lieutenant Hawley, the officer sent to New Zealand, will remain at Auckland three weeks awaiting orders.
Of course, I have promptly informed our ministers at Berlin and London of these reports and instructed them to communicate them to the German and British foreign offices respectively.
I am, etc.,