Mr. Foster to Mr. Phelps.
Washington, November 18, 1892.
Sir: In 1884 the Government of Her Britannic Majesty put forward a proposal for an international understanding looking to the eventual establishment of a general system whereby the supply of liquors, arms and explosives to the native Pacific Islanders might be effectively prevented. It was at once favorably welcomed, in principle, by this Government, subject to further information as to the scope and form of the proposed agreement.
The subsequent course of the negotiation is not necessary to be herein recounted, nor commented upon further than to observe that, in the absence of a formulated plan of agreement and in the confusion engendered in the course of the comparison of views among the various states, the attitude of the United States in this regard has been seriously misunderstood, and even regarded as obstructive to a general accord.
[Page 199]The recent submission of a draft agreement by Her Britannic Majesty’s Government has, however, afforded this Government a gratifying opportunity to set itself right on the record and confirm by favorable action now upon the detailed plan the acquiescence in the general principle which it cheerfully announced in August, 1884.
In the supposition that the British proposal may be under consideration by the Government of Germany, and to enable you to respond to any friendly inquiries which may be put to you respecting the views of the United States upon the subject, I inclose, for your information, copies of a note addressed by me to Her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires on the 11th ultimo, expressing concurrence in the proposed plan, with some necessary minor reservations.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Same, mutatis mutandis, to the principal powers.