Office of the Historian

Mr. Trench to Earl of Rosebery.

Berlin,September 16, 1892.

My Lord: With reference to your lordship’s dispatch No. 196 of the 5th instant, respecting the question raised by Baron S. von Pilsach in regard to the audit of the municipal and Government accounts in Samoa, I have now the honor to transmit to your lordship herewith a translation of a note which I have to-day received from the Imperial ministry of foreign affairs intimating that the German Government attach no special importance to the present case, which they consider may be properly settled by the chief justice. They are, however, of opinion that the president of the municipal council should be cautioned against the undue multiplication of subordinate posts.

I have, etc.,

P. Le Poer Trench.
[Inclosure in No. 1.]
[Translation.]
Foreign Office, Berlin, September 15, 1892.

The undersigned has the honor to inform Mr. Le Poer Trench, in reply to his note of the 12th instant, that the president of the municipal council at Apia has also asked the Imperial Government for instructions with reference to the audits of his treasury administration.

As no special importance is attached by the Imperial Government to the question raised by Baron S. v. Pilsach, the Imperial consul has been instructed to inform Baron S. v. Pilsach that the Imperial Government intends to remain neutral in the matter, which, in case of necessity, may be settled by the decision of the chief justice in accordance with the regulations of the Samoa act.

The undersigned, therefore, considers it needless to change the instructions to the Imperial consul in the sense proposed by Her Majesty’s Government, but Baron S. v. Pilsach should, however, be warned against further increasing the already considerable expense of administering the country and the municipality by creating, out of affection for principles or theories, fresh posts, such as that of assistant treasurer to the municipality, as suggested in his report.

The undersigned will instruct the Imperial consul to make a communication in this sense to his colleagues and, under certain conditions, to the president of the municipal council.

Rotenhan.