Sir Julian
Pauncefote to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, January 4,
1894.
Sir: With reference to my note of the 12th
ultimo I have the honor, by direction of the Earl of Rosebery, to
communicate to you the inclosed copy of a dispatch from Her Majesty’s
consul at Apia to his lordship, reporting on the collection of native
taxes and the financial arrangements made by the consular board.
I have, etc.,
[Page 612]
[Inclosure.]
No. 65.]
Samoa, November 7,
1893.
My Lord: I have the honor to report, with
reference to my No. 57, of the 9th October that the consuls have
collected a further sum of $7,600 by way of native taxes, making a
total up to to-day of $17,247.
The total income of the Samoan Government having already exceeded the
minimum fixed by the arrangement of the 6th June, 1893, the sums
advanced by the municipality to the Government during the year have
been refunded in accordance with the arrangement.
The consuls have sent a strong message to those tax collectors who
have not already paid, and I think it is possible we may before
another month collect the whole of the remainder of the native
tax.
The creditors of the Samoan Government are pressing for payment, and
it will be wise to meet them so far as may be possible. We have now
not only greatly improved the financial position of the Government,
but we can see our way towards carrying it on until the next set of
taxes can be collected by M. Schmidt in March or April, 1894. These
results have only been obtained by the cordial cooperation of my
colleagues, and I should like to record the deep sense I entertain
of the friendly unanimity and good feeling which have characterized
the performance of our onerous duties since the departure of Baron
Pilsach. As senior consul I am under a deep obligation to both my
colleagues for their unfailing courtesy and ungrudging support.
I have, etc.,
