Mr. Foster to Baron Ketteler.
Washington, November 18, 1892.
Sir: With reference to the resignation of Baron Senfft von Pilsach as president of the municipal council of Apia, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your polite note of the 15th instant, in which you state that the Imperial Government thinks it important that he should be relieved only on condition of a change also in the chief justiceship of Samoa. You further state that the Imperial Government believes that the requirements of the two positions might well be met by the appointment as chief justice of Mr. Ide, formerly the American member of the Samoan land commission, and by that of William [Page 662] Hennings, a German who has been long engaged in mercantile pursuits in Fiji, as president of the municipal council; and that it would “agree to the simultaneous recall of Mr. Cedercrantz and Baron Senfft von Pilsach, provided that the gentlemen above proposed shall be appointed as their successors.”
The reports which this Government has received confirm the advisability of a change in the office of chief justice as well as in that of the president of the municipal council, and I am disposed, therefore, to assent to your suggestion to that end. I have no present opportunity for obtaining any further information in regard to Mr. Hennings than that communicated in your note; but I have made inquiries respecting the standing and qualifications of Mr. Ide, and the information received is of a very satisfactory character. If the British Government concurs in these two nominations the Government of the United States stands ready to accept them; and it also agrees with the Imperial Government that the annual salary of the president of the municipal council could wisely be reduced to $3,600.
As Baron Senfft von Pilsach has already tendered his resignation and solicited the approval of the treaty powers, it will only be necessary for them to concurrently signify their assent thereto. With respect to the chief justice, I have the honor to suggest that instead of proceeding under section 3 of Article iii of the Berlin general act, it would be well for the treaty powers to first instruct their respective consuls to discreetly acquaint Mr. Cedercrantz with the decision of their governments that it was best for the harmonious administration of affairs in the Samoan Islands that new appointments should be made for the offices of chief justice and president of the municipal council; and that having accepted the resignation of the latter they would be prepared to accept the resignation of the chief justice.
I also avail myself of this oportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of the 10th instant, relative to the disturbed political condition of the Samoan Islands, which has received my attentive consideration.
Accept, sir, etc.,