Baron Saurma to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, June 1, 1894.
Mr. Secretary of State: The president of the municipal council at Apia has reported to the Imperial Government that the Samoan Government has decided to increase the salary of the native advocate. The aforesaid president has, at the same time, asked that identical instructions be issued by the treaty powers whereby all disbursements of Government money be made subject to his approval, his object in asking this being to prevent this money from being squandered, and also to prevent the treaty powers from being held responsible for any deficits that might thereby be occasioned.
The consuls of the treaty powers have, it is stated, declared that they agree with the view taken by the president of the municipality, which is in accord with the provisions of the Samoa act, while a decision which has in the meantime been pronounced in the case by the chief justice is adverse to it.
As a similar report has probably been received by your excellency from Apia, I have the honor, in pursuance of the instructions of the Imperial Government, most respecctfully to inquire whether the U. S. [Page 714] Government is prepared to instruct the American representative to act in concert with his colleagues in supporting the position taken by the municipal president, and I beg to be informed on this subject as speedily as may be, in order that I may telegraph the reply received to Berlin.
I avail myself, etc.,