M. Thiébaut to Mr. Hay.

[Translation.]

Mr. Secretary of State: With reference to a note which I had the honor to hand you on the 26th December, 1899, you were pleased on the 26th of June last to give Mr. Cambon a copy of a memorandum which you had sent the day before to the British embassy, informing them that, subject to the acquiescence of Great Britain and Germany, the Government of the United States would agree to the claims of Frenchmen who had sustained injuries during the recent events in Samoa being submitted to the arbitration of His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway.

The representative of the Republic at London, to whom that memorandum was communicated by the department of foreign affairs with a request again to bring this matter before the foreign office, has just imparted to Mr. Delcassé the reply he has received from Lord Salisbury. By order of my Government I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of that reply. As your excellency will see, the British premier declares that the Government of the Queen will adhere to the course above indicated if it is likewise accepted by the United States and Germany.

In the course of a conversation had with you in the last days of the month of May, Mr. Cambon informed you that the under secretary of state for foreign affairs had formally assured the French chargé d’affaires at Berlin that the Imperial Government would, for its part, endeavor to cause the French papers to be admitted to arbitration.

The reception given by the Cabinets of Washington and London to the overtures of my Government can not but fortify these inclinations of that of Berlin. I shall take care to let you know the final answer of the German foreign office as soon as communicated to me.

I seize this opportunity of renewing, etc.

Thiébaut.
[Inclosure.]

The Marquis of Salisbury to M. Cambon.

Your Excellency: With reference to the note which I had the honor to address to your excellency on the 21st of May last in regard to the claims of French citizens arising out of the late disturbances in Samoa, I have to inform your excellency that if the Government of Germany and of the United States concur Her Majesty’s Government are willing to agree that the French claims should be included in the forthcoming arbitration before the King of Sweden and Norway.

I have, etc.,

Salisbury.