Foreign Relations of the United States, 1894, Appendix I, Chinese-Japanese War, Enforcement of Regulation Respective to Fur Seals, Mosquito Territory, Affairs at Bluefields, Claim of Antonio Maximo Mora, Import Duties on Certain Products of Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela, Affairs in the Samoan Islands

Mr. Herbert to Mr. Foster.

British Legation,
Newport, R. I., September 1, 1892.

Sir: In accordance with instructions which I have received from my Government, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter addressed to the Marquis of Salisbury by Baron S. von Pilsach, inclosing copy of an ordinance passed by the Samoan Government to provide for the collection and management of the revenue of customs at the port of Apia.

In forwarding this ordinance to Her Majesty’s Government, Baron S. von Pilsach states, as you will observe, that it has been drawn up in conformity with the customs regulation ordinance of 1881, enacted in Fiji, a few clauses having been modified to suit local requirements, and he asks that the necessary steps may be taken to render it applicable to British subjects in Samoa.

I should be very much obliged if you would be good enough to inform me whether the United States Government have received a similar application from the municipal president; and, if so, what action they propose to take with a view to render the provisions of the ordinance obligatory on United States citizens.

I have, etc.,

Michael H. Herbert.