I also transmit a copy of a note submitted to the Marquis de la Vega de
Armijo, secretary of state, giving the amount of money expended by the
American Board of Foreign Missionaries in the mission at Ponapé, with the
amount claimed as damages for property taken and destroyed.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 106.]
Memorandum, submitted at an interview between Mr.
Snowden and the prime minister, setting forth the assurances given by
the Spanish Government as to the protection that would be accorded the
American missionaries in the Caroline Islands. At this interview the
note of the Duke of Tetuan, dated January 11, 1890, with other data
bearing upon the same subject, was submitted.
In September, 1885, before the right of Spain to the sovereignty of the
Caroline Islands had been decided, my Government, after recounting the
beneficent work of the missionaries in civilizing the natives, sought to
know what protection these American citizens would have under Spanish
rule.
In reply the Spanish minister of state gave the amplest assurance that
the missionaries would not be molested in their civilizing and
christianizing work.
On February 10, 1886, your minister at Washington, Señor Valera,
transmitted to the Department of State a copy of the text of a protocol
concluded between Spain and Germany, by the mediation of His Holiness,
Pope Leo XIII, recognizing the sovereignty of Spain over the Caroline
and Pelew Islands.
[Page 575]
In acknowledging the receipt of this communication the U. S. Secretary of
State used the following language in addressing the Spanish
minister:
“As your Government is aware, the citizens of the United States have been
actually engaged in disseminating information among the inhabitants of
that quarter with a view to their prosperity, and it is not presumed
that their treatment under the rule of Spain, which this arrangement
recognizes and confirms as between Germany and Spain (and which has
never been contested by the United States), will be any less favorable
than that of Germans or other foreigners cormmorant therein.”
To this Señor Muruaga, succeeding Señor Valera as minister at Washington,
replied for the Spanish Government, under date of May 4, 1886, as
follows:
“Her Majesty the Queen Regent, in conformity with the resolution of her
ministers in council, had directed the United States to be informed that
the treatment American citizens were to receive in the islands would not
be less favorable than that accorded to German or other foreigners.”
The protocol between Germany and Spain, dated Rome, December 17, 1885,
gives to German subjects on the islands “the fullest protection to their
rights of person and property,” and declares further that “all their
acquired rights of property and land shall be safeguarded” (that is,
guaranteed).
Under the assurances given by the Spanish Government, under date of May
4, 1886 (before stated), the American citizens on the islands were
guaranteed the same rights and protection as that accorded the Germans
under the terms of the protocol signed at Rome.
It will thus be seen that before and after the decision of His Holiness
the Pope, awarding the sovereignty of these islands, the attention of
the Spanish Government had been directed to the work of these American
missionaries on the islands and the fullest guarantees had been given by
His Majesty’s Government as to the protection of all their rights and
privileges and of their person and property.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 106.]
Mr. Snowden to the
Marquis de la Vega de
Armijo.
Legation of the United States,
Madrid, February 21,
1893.
Excellency: In accordance with my suggestion at
the last interview your excellency was good enough to grant me for a
discussion of the Carolines incident, I submit herewith a statement
giving the approximate amount of money expended by the American Board of
Foreign Missions in establishing and maintaining the mission on the
Island of Ponapé as well as a statement of the value of land and
buildings in the island, with the value of the property taken and
destroyed by the Spanish authorities:
| Money expended from 1852 to 1890, in planting and
sustaining mission on Ponapé |
$366,921 |
| Paid in 1891 to missionaries and on ships employed for
Ponapé |
20,000 |
| Value of land seized at Kenan, being the amount agreed to
be paid by Spanish authorities of the island |
5,000 |
| Total value of the buildings |
25,000 |
| Value of building destroyed by Spanish authorities |
15,000 |
| Value of land granted to missionaries elsewhere than at
Kenan |
30,000 |
| Total |
$446,921 |
Provided the missionaries are permitted to return to Ponapé, the American
Board of Missionaries ask, as a full compensation for property destroyed
and land seized and occupied by Spanish authorities, $25,000.
If the missionaries are not permitted to return, it indicates a loss of
all money expended, say, $446,921, and could not in any case be less
than $250,000.
I avail, etc.,
