Baron Ketteler to Mr. Foster.
Washington, November 15, 1892.
Mr. Secretary of State: In reply to your note of the 6th ultimo relative to the resignation of Baron Senfft von Pilsach, in Apia, the contents of which were brought by me, without delay, to the knowledge of the foreign office at Berlin, I have the honor, Mr. Secretary of State, in obedience to instructions received, to make the following communication:
The Imperial Government has again considered the recall of Baron Senfft von Pilsach from his post as president of the municipal council of Apia, in view of the unmistakable impairment of his relations with the consuls and his official conduct in general. This it has done independently of the suggestion of the U. S. Government, contained in your note of October 6, 1892. The Imperial Government, however, thinks it important that he be relieved only with the proviso that the post of chief justice of Samoa be newly filled.
From various reports of the imperial consulate at Apia, the contents of which were in part transmitted to the Department of State in the different communications of this legation relative to Samoan affairs, it appears beyond a doubt that the influence which Chief Justice Cedercrantz has exerted upon Baron Senfft von Pilsach has not been a good one.
The conflicts now existing between the latter and the consuls of the treaty powers, reference to which was made in your note of the 6th ultimo, are, in the opinion of the Imperial Government, to be attributed to this influence.
[Page 661]If, however, Baron von Senfft should alone be relieved, his successor would easily be brought into an undesirable state of dependence upon Chief Justice Cedercrantz. The Imperial Government may therefore presume that a change in the person of the chief justice would be viewed with satisfaction by the U. S. Government. The British Government would also probably assent to the resignation of both these officers.
As regards the filling of these places, the secretary of state of the foreign office shares the views recently expressed by you, Mr. Secretary of State, on the occasion of our interview on the 11th instant, at the Department of State, to the effect that the selection of the persons who are to fill these positions should not be made in the same way as before, but by a direct understanding of the three Governments interested in Samoa, and so that men should be preferred who are already familiar with affairs in the South Sea, if possible, with those of the Samoan Islands themselves. These views would be met, in the opinion of the Imperial Government, by the appointment of Mr. Ide, who was formerly the American member of the Samoan land commission, as chief justice, and by that of Wilhelm Hennings, a German, who has been long engaged in mercantile pursuits in Fiji, as president of the municipal council at Apia.
Mr. Ide is very favorably known on account of his former course in Samoa. The foreign office at Berlin has been privately informed that he would be willing to accept the office. Application for the position has been formally made by Mr. Hennings. This gentleman is about 50 years of age, and for more than ten years has been merchant consul of the Empire at Levuka, Fiji. He has, moreover, filled the office of chief magistrate under the English Government for an important judicial and administrative district in Fiji. He is recommended by Sir John B. Thurston, governor of Fiji, and enjoys throughout the South Sea, especially in Samoa, the reputation of an honorable man. He was led to resign his consular position in 1879 by pecuniary losses which were chiefly due to a large fire. Mr. Hennings combines the advantages of experience and of special knowledge of affairs in the South Sea.
The Imperial Government would therefore agree to the simultaneous recall of Mr. Cedercrantz and Baron Senfft von Pilsach, provided that the gentlemen above proposed should be appointed as their successors.
Hoping soon to be favored with a reply as to the manner in which these proposals of the Imperial Government are viewed by that of the United States,
I avail myself, etc.,