Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Gresham.
Sir: On the receipt of your note of the 21st December last, I at once addressed a dispatch to the Earl of Rosebery, informing his lordship that the President of the United States, while fully recognizing the humane motives that prompted Her Majesty’s Government to propose that the wives of Mataafa and the other deported Samoan chiefs should be permitted to join their husbands in their exile, would, before giving the assent of the United States Government to that measure, be glad to learn for how long a time approximately it was proposed to keep the banished chiefs in exile.
I have now received a dispatch from his lordship in reply, informing me that the views held on this subject by the German Government are to the effect that the question put by the President can not at present be answered, even approximately, as the situation in Samoa is still uncertain and incalculable, and as a considerable period must elapse before it can be seen how affairs at Apia will develop.
The Earl of Rosebery desires me to inform you that Her Majesty’s Government entirely concur in these views and share the opinion of the Imperial Government that it would be a mistake, and a proceeding not reconcilable with the duties of the treaty powers towards the white settlers, if the return of the rebellious chiefs were permitted too soon, and before complete security has been established in Samoa.
I have, etc.,