Mr. Taylor to Mr. Gresham.

No. 100.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 73, of December 26, 1893, touching the Caroline incident, in which you instruct me to notify the minister of state of my readiness to accept the sum of $17,500 as indemnity for certain ascertained losses, subject to conditions which you may very clearly define. Inclosed please find a copy of my note to the minister of state, in which I have been careful to reiterate his promise to permit the return of the missionaries at a date to be hereafter indicated, along with the conditions annexed by you to [Page 594] the receipt of the money indemnity. Those conditions I have stated in your own language as nearly as possible.

* * * * * * *

I am, etc.,

Hannis Taylor.
[Inclosure in No. 100.]

Mr. Taylor to Mr. Moret.

Excellency: Under instructions recently received from my Government, I now have the honor to reply to your note of the 12th of October, 1893, touching the Caroline incident. In that note, after stating that “the Government of His Majesty, ratifying what it has already promised, will be specially careful, as soon as the reports from the superior authorities of the Philippines (who have been again consulted) permit it, to announce to the Washington Government the date at which the missionaries may effect their return to Ponape without any risk,” you express a desire to pay to the proper authority the sum of $17,500, the certain indemnity already agreed upon. I am instructed by my Government to notify you of my readiness to receive the tendered amount, and at the same time to inform you that it does not thereby waive, either expressly or by implication, its coincident demand for the return of the despoiled American citizens to the spot where they have established vested and recognized rights through half a century of residence and tenure, that question being inseparable from the matter of reparation for certain ascertained losses.

I avail, etc.

Hannis Taylor.