Mr. Uhl to Baron Saurma.
Washington, March 23, 1894.
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 6th ultimo, in which you refer to the three propositions regarding matters in Samoa which were presented in your previous note and memorandum of November 6, 1893, and express the satisfaction felt by the Imperial Government at the removal of Mr. Maben, the so-called secretary of state of the islands, to which the second of your propositions related.
[Page 705]There were circumstances which prevented an immediate response to your note of November last, and in the meantime the announced retirement of Mr. Maben, and the cordial reception given to Herr Schmidt, the new president of the municipal council, by the officers of the three treaty powers residing at Apia, appeared to have removed occasion for specific reply on those two points.
The first proposition of your note of November 6 related to the request of the Samoan Government for such modification of Article v, section 5, of the general act of Berlin, as would permit the three consuls jointly to continue to act as advisers to the King, as they had done since the retirement of Baron Senfft.
This Government is indisposed to consider amendments of the character suggested, inasmuch as it is our intention to suggest in the light of large experience, such a consideration of the entire subject as may result in the substantial modification of obligations of the United States in the premises.
The question of conferring special advisory functions upon the three consuls being thus set aside, and the powers of the royal adviser continuing unquestioned where they were lodged by the general act, the existing arrangements seem to go as far as is reasonable in the direction of keeping from Malietoa and the Samoan Government “unauthorized counselors” of the class you describe.
Accept, etc.,
Acting Secretary.