Mr. Adee to Baron Saurma.
Washington, September 22, 1893.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 11th instant touching Samoan affairs. You add that Mr. Schmidt, lately named as president of the municipal council in Samoa, [Page 691] intends to sail in October and hopes to reach Apia in the latter part of December. Mr. Ide, as I have heretofore communicated to your embassy, expects to leave San Francisco by the steamer of October 20th, so that he will probably arrive at Apia about the same time that Mr. Schmidt does.
I observe that His Majesty’s Government proposes that a lump sum of $1,500 each be paid to Mr. Ide and Mr. Schmidt to defray their necessary expenses in reaching Samoa, and that their salaries shall be computed from the day of their arrival at Apia.
These propositions are satisfactory to the United States.
In connection with the payment to Mr. Ide, I desire to say that in order to permit him to make all necessary arrangements so that his departure might be expedited, the Department has on this day advanced to him one thousand dollars ($1,000) on account of his outward transit.
If, therefore, you will request your Government to make its payment of $500, which is one-third of the whole amount agreed upon to this Government, that it may be covered into the Treasury to the credit of the Samoan fund, the matter can be adjusted in that way. This Government holds itself in readiness to advance to Mr. Schmidt its share of $500 to defray his transit expenses to Apia, at whatever time and in whatever manner may [be] agreeable to His Majesty’s Government and Mr. Schmidt.
“Mr. Schmidt has not,” you state, “expressed any desire for a leave of absence from his post. He has, however, requested that he may be placed in possession of the dwelling which was erected two years ago for the president of the municipal council, for which he is willing to pay a reasonable rent.”
This building, it is understood, was occupied by Malietoa and his family after the departure of Baron Senfft von Pilsach, and in the judgment of the Imperial German Government it is thought that, it being a part of the property to be managed by the consuls as the representatives of the municipal president and not the private property of Malietoa, the consuls should see that the said building is not used for any other than its legitimate purposes. It is also represented that, in the view of the German Government, the dwelling heretofore occupied by the chief justice should be set apart for his separate use.
The consular representative of this Government at Apia will be instructed to act in concert with his colleagues there to the end that Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Ide may have their respective residences.
You say that since his arrival at Berlin Baron Senfft von Pilsach has applied to have his travelling expenses refunded to him.
In the Department’s note of August 31, 1893, it was stated that the consular representative of the United States at Apia would be instructed that whenever he was advised by his colleagues of Germany and Great Britain that they had been authorized to pay over to Mr. Cedercrantz and Baron von Pilsach, or “the latter’s legal representative,” he was to draw upon the Secretary of State for the sum necessary to pay their expenses.
On the same day, August 31, 1893, an instruction in this sense was sent to Mr. Blacklock, vice-consul-general at Apia.
In view, however, of the fact that Baron von Pilsach has reached Berlin and made request for his travelling expenses, the Department holds itself in readiness to pay over to him the sum of $500, which is the share of this Government. I inclose a voucher which Baron Senfft you pilsach should sign and return to this Department, when the sum [Page 692] named will be paid to your embassy for transmission to him or to the Baron direct, as may be desired.
Accept, etc.,
Acting Secretary.