Baron von Rotenhan to Sir E. Malet.
Berlin, August 23, 1893.
The undersigned has the honor to inform Her Majesty’s ambassador, in reply to his excellency note of the 18th instant, that no communication from the American Government has as yet been received here upon the subject of the annual leave of absence for Mr. Ide, whom it is proposed to nominate chief justice of Samoa. So far as can he foreseen, it would be possible to meet the wishes of that gentleman. In pursuance of the final paragraph of section 2, Article III, of the Samoa act, his duties would be discharged in his absence by the president of the municipal council.
Herr Schmidt, imperial vice-consul, who has been selected by the governments for the latter office, has not yet expressed a corresponding wish to that preferred by Mr. Ide. On the other hand, he has asked to be put in possession, in return for payment of a moderate rent of the official residence erected two years ago for the president of the municipality. As has recently become known here, that residence, since the departure of Baron Senfft von Pilsach, has been taken possession of by Malietoa and his family. Considering that the premises in question form part of the Samoan Government property falling under the management of the consuls acting as substitutes for the president of the municipality, and not part of Malietoa’s private property, it is the opinion of this Government that it is the business of the consuls to see to it that this residential accommodation shall not be diverted from its legitimate employment. In like manner, any pretensions on the part of Malietoa or of other natives to the residence hitherto placed at the disposition of the chief justice must be guarded against as Mr. Ide would be in a position to lay reasonable claim to the same.
In regard to the question raised in Sir Edward Malet’s note as to fixing the expenses of removal incurred by Mr. Ide, it might be an appropriate course to regulate this point on a joint basis for the two officials about to be dispatched to Samoa. The Imperial Government would suggest that each of them should be furnished with a lump sum of $1,500 in gold to be provided by the three governments in equal proportions, in harmony with the proposal made by Germany with respect to the expenses of the return journey of Messrs. Cedercrantz and von Senfft.
Payment of salary should commence for the new officials from the day of their arrival at Apia.
The undersigned has the honor to request the good offices of his excellency Her Majesty’s ambassador to bring the foregoing proposals to the knowledge of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government, and he trusts to receive as early an intimation as possible of their views in regard to them. The undersigned begs further to observe that an arrangement to the same effect will be entered into with the Government of the United States, and he avails himself, etc.,