Mr. Gresham to Mr.
von Holleben.
Department of State,
Washington, May 17,
1893.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of
your note of the 15th instant, in relation to the extension of the term
of the Samoan land commission.
[Page 675]
The proposition as modified by the concurrence of your Government and
that of Great Britain, to extend the term of the commission to March 31,
1894, is accepted by the Government of the United States.
Accept, sir, etc.,
Memorandum.
The foreign office at Berlin has recently received a telegram from
the imperial consul in Apia reporting that in consequence of the
nonappearance of foreign ships of war in the harbor of Apia, the
King Malietoa now intended to begin hostilities against Mataafa.
The consul further states that such possible warlike action largely
increases the danger to which the plantations, as well as the life
and other property of the white population, have already been long
exposed, and for which lately more serious apprehensions have been
felt than ever before.
There is at present one cruiser belonging to the imperial navy in
Samoan waters, and another such man-of-war will be stationed there
by the beginning of next month.
This legation has been instructed to bring these facts to the
knowledge of the Department of State, and to ascertain the views
held by the U. S. Government with regard to the question of intended
action in Samoan waters.
Imperial German legation,
Washington, June 13th,
1893.
