Mr. Gresham to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, July 6, 1893.
My Dear Sir Julian: I received your letter of the 24th ultimo at Chicago.
To-day I informed the German secretary, Baron von Ketteler, that the Philadelphia, one of our best men-of-war, sailed from New York on June 24 for Samoa, to cooperate with the English and German war ships in an effort to secure the surrender of Mataafa and his adherents; that the Philadelphia is a new cruiser, thoroughly equipped, and capable of landing at least 200 men.
The baron stated it was the desire that the United States should send at least two war ships, the same number his Government had sent.
I asked him how many marines, could be landed from the two German cruisers, and he replied 125 from each. After informing him that at present we could not well send more than one vessel, he stated that he thought the Philadelphia would be sufficient if she could land an effective force of at least 200 men.
I repeated to the baron the earnest desire of this Government to effect the surrender of Mataafa and his adherents without bloodshed, and he said the German Government shared that desire.
The Philadelphia will coal at Valparaiso and proceed directly from there to Samoa.
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Yours, sincerely, etc.,