Reply of President Roosevelt to the Chiefs and People of Tutuila and Other Islands, July 21, 1902
To the Chiefs and the People of the Islands of Tutuila, Aunuu, and Other Neighboring Islands.
Greeting: Whereas the Chiefs and People of the Islands of Tutuila, Aunuu and neighboring small Islands have, of their own free will and pleasure, for the promotion of the peace and welfare of the people of said islands, for the establishment of a good and sound government, and for the preservation of the rights and property of the inhabitants of said islands, solicited of the United States of America its supervision and protection; and,
Whereas this desire has been expressed by the hereditary representatives of the people of said islands in a Declaration dated the seventeenth day of April, A. D. 1900, executed according to Samoan custom and pledging allegiance to the Government of the United States of America;
[Page 1013]Therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America do hereby express to the Chiefs and People of said islands the gratification of the Government and people of the United States in receiving from the Chiefs and People of the said islands this token of their friendship and their confidence in the just and friendly intentions of the United States. The local rights and privileges mentioned in said Declaration will be respected and it is our earnest hope that peace, happiness, and prosperity may make their permanent abode with the good people of these islands.
July the twenty-first, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and two.
By the President:
David J. Hill, Acting Secretary of State.