Baron von Thielmann to Mr. Olney.

[Translation.]

Mr. Secretary of State: In the notes of Hon. Walter Q. Gresham, late Secretary of State, bearing date of the 18th and 25th of April last, Nos. 45 and 55, relative to the importation and sale of arms and ammunition in Samoa, that officer declared that he could not instruct the American representative at Apia to issue, in compliance with suggestions which had been made, a consular ordinance for the prevention of the importation and sale of arms and ammunition outside of the municipal district.

The United States Government did, however, express its willingness to take measures in order that the penalties provided in section 6 of the draft of the ordinance should, the case arising, be made applicable to American citizens.

I have been instructed to express to your excellency, in reply to the aforesaid notes, the regret of the Imperial Government that it has not been possible for the three treaty Powers unanimously to reach an effective settlement of this matter, which is one of so much importance for the peace and quiet of Samoa.

The Imperial Government, however, in conjunction with the Royal Government of Great Britain, gratefully accepts the offer made by your excellency’s predecessor to instruct the United States consul-general at Apia to enforce the penalties provided in section 6 of the ordinance drafted by the president of the municipality, in case of the violation by American citizens of the provisions of the Samoan act relative to the importation and sale of arms and ammunition.

I consequently have the honor most respectfully to request your [Page 1142] excellency to transmit such instructions to the representative of the United States in Samoa, and be pleased to notify me that this has been done, that I may so inform the Imperial representative in Samoa.

I avail myself, etc.,

Thielmann.