Baron Saurma to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, January 31, 1894.
Mr. Secretary of State: Since your excellency announced, by your note of September 6, 1893, the assent of the United States Government to the proposal that Mataafa and the principal ringleaders in the recent Samoan disturbances should be conveyed to Jaluit onboard of a German war vessel, and interned there at the expense of the three governments, the suggestion has been made from Samoa, to the Imperial Government, that the three treaty powers should defray the expense occasioned by the preliminary detention of the rebels on the island of Fakaofo, in the Union group.
It appears from a report of the imperial consul at Apia, which has been communicated to me, that the eleven prisoners were kept in Fakaofo for three months and a few days (i. e., from August 3 until about November 8, 1893), and that the expense of their maintenance was, according to contract, £22 sterling per month.
As the British consul at Apia will probably visit the Union Islands in May next, he might, on that occasion, pay this money to those who are entitled to receive it.
The Imperial Government is prepared, in compliance with the aforesaid suggestion, to pay one-third of the expense in question, with the proviso that it be refunded, hereafter, by the Samoan Government, in case the United States Government and the Government of Great Britain are disposed to do the same, and I beg your excellency to take the matter into consideration, and to inform me of the conclusion that shall be reached.
I avail myself, etc.,