[Inclosure in No.
43.—Translation.]
Señor Moret to Mr.
Taylor.
Ministry of
State,
Palace,
October 12, 1893.
My Dear Sir: I have the honor to answer your
courteous note of the 18th of August last, which reached me with some
delay, and in which, referring to the settlement of the Caroline Islands
affairs, already arranged between the two governments, you requested
that of Her Majesty to fix a date for the return of the Methodist
missionaries to Ponapé.
Great as may be the wishes of the Government which you so worthily
represent for the realization of this event, those of Her Majesty’s
Government are not less so, because in that way it would make manifest
once more the friendship it feels for the United States.
The Government of Her Majesty does not pretend to delay the return of the
missionaries without very powerful reasons; but it would incur great
responsibility if, under the present circumstances, when the
consequences resulting from the past regrettable events have not as yet
disappeared, it were to grant its consent to the proposed return of the
missionaries, exposing them, as it appears from the reports of the
governor-general of the Philippines, to contingencies never to be
sufficiently deplored.
The Government of Her Majesty can not, therefore, by virtue of the law of
prudence, guarantee the safety of the persons and property of the
Methodist missionaries should they now return to the island. Nor can it
do so until the opinion, now rooted in the minds of those inhabitants,
that the missionaries will never again establish themselves there,
disappears, which opinion is undoubtedly supported by the manner in
which the island was abandoned by the said missionaries. In this
connection I must also remind you that the missionaries were not driven
from the island, as it has been said. On the contrary, indisputable
testimony proves that they absented themselves voluntarily in spite of
the efforts of the governor to dissuade them from that purpose,
promising them full liberty to hold their meetings as soon as the
exceptional state of affairs brought about by the past deplorable events
should cease.
Another proof of the benevolent sentiments which the Government of Her
Majesty entertains toward the missionaries may be found in the fact that
other similar Methodist missions continue to he established in other
islands of the east group, such as Husai Walan, Truck, Mokil, and the
group Moslock, in which, fortunately, the sad causes which to-day
determine the danger of their return to Ponapé, are not opposed to the
safety of the missionaries there.
The Government of Her Majesty adheres to what it has already promised,
and as soon as the reports from the superior authority of Philippines
(who has been again consulted) permit it, it will take a special care to
announce to the Washington Government the date at which the missionaries
may effect their return to Ponapé without risk.
I have only to add that the Government of Her Majesty considers this case
as definitely ended, and that not wishing to retain in its hands a sum
which already does not belong to it, as is the sum agreed upon as
indemnity for those interested in this affair, this Government expects
that the legation of the United States will name a person to whom the
said sum is to be delivered.
I avail myself, etc.,
