M. Thiébaut to Mr. Hay.
Washington, November 13, 1900.
Sir: Referring to the correspondence which has passed between the Department of State and this embassy in relation to the question of Samoan indemnities, especially to my communication of the 8th of August last and to your note (No. 344) of August 14, I have the honor to inform you that the German Government has decided, as have that of the United States and that of Her Britannic Majesty, to propose that the claims of French citizens in Samoa be submitted to His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway for arbitration.
I am in this connection informed by my Government that His Majesty Oscar II has accepted, in principle, the office of arbitrator in this question of the Samoan indemnities, inasmuch as his consent, however, has been given only after unofficial conferences, the Sovereign has expressed a desire that an official request may be made of him by the three powers interested, such request to be accompanied by a declaration that the said powers agree in requesting the King to examine the claims of French citizens simultaneously with those of their respective subjects or citizens.
After this step has been taken the Government of the Republic, in compliance with the wish that has been expressed by His Majesty Oscar II, will, in its turn, address the Sovereign officially, just as shall have been done by the Governments of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain.
According to the information furnished to the chargé d’affaires of France at Berlin by the assistant secretary of state for foreign affairs, which information has been likewise communicated to me by my Govvernment, the representatives of His Majesty the Emperor of Germany at London and Washington must have received instructions by this time to make application to the Governments to which they are accredited for the official step asked for by His Majesty the King of Sweden.
I have consequently been instructed to inform you that if your excellency would be pleased to instruct the United States minister at Stockholm to act in this matter with as little delay as possible, such action on your part would be highly appreciated by my Government.
As soon as my Government shall have been notified that the representatives of Germany, the United States, and Great Britain have taken the step in question, the minister of France will be instructed to address a request to the minister of foreign affairs of Sweden similar to that made by his colleagues.
As the protocols signed by the Samoan mixed commission have been filed at the Department of State, I shall be very grateful to you if you can send me a copy of them, which I will transmit to my Government, agreeably to the desire which it has expressed.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,