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. Gresham to Sir Julian Pauncefote.

Department of State,
Washington, November 18, 1893.

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowlege the receipt of your confidential note of the 15th instant, inclosing a copy of a letter addressed by Capt. Bickford, commanding Her Majesty’s ship Katoomba, at Apia, to Rear-Admiral Bowden-Smith, commander-in-chief of Her Majesty’s Australian squadron, reporting his proceedings at Samoa and his opinion on the subject of the disarmament of the natives.

Capt. Bickford’s report has been read with interest, and I quite agree with him in thinking the suggested disarmament of the natives impracticable, and certainly undesirable to attempt in the manner proposed by the King’s Government.

I have, etc.,

W. Q. Gresham.