Baron Ketteler to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, August 21, 1893.
Sir: With reference to my note of the 17th of this month, I have the honor to inform you that I have recently received telegraphic advices from the foreign office at Berlin to the effect that Her Britannic Majesty’s Government had proposed to the Imperial Government to deport the Samoan rebel Mataafa as well as eleven other native chiefs who were captured at the same time by the joint action of the German and British war vessels, to one of the islands belonging to the German Possessions in the South Pacific Ocean and to divide the expenses incurred by such detention between the three treaty powers.
The Imperial Government is prepared to assent to this proposal, and has proposed Jaluit, the residence of the imperial commissioner for the Marshall Islands, as a proper and well-adapted place for the detention of Mataafa and his rebel chiefs.
I have therefore been instructed to communicate on this subject with the Department of State and to request the consent of the U. S. Government to the contemplated measure with regard to Mataafa’s destiny.
[Page 683]Having been informed by Her Britannic Majesty’s ambassador at this capital that he has already communicated to you, both by telegram and by note, the concurrence of the British Government in the proposed arrangements, I beg to express the hope, on behalf of the Imperial Government, that the proposal with regard to Mataafa will likewise meet with the approval of the U. S. Government.
While requesting the favor of an early reply,
I avail, etc.,