Mr. Blaine to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
Washington, February 20, 1892.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 27th ultimo, relative to the communication received by Her Majesty’s Government from the King of Samoa, and to Bay that this Government has received a similar communication from King Malietoa complaining that the adherents of the rebellious chief, Mataafa, are defying and obstructing the authority of the supreme court of Samoa, and requesting the assistance of the men-of-war of the three treaty powers to enable the court to execute its warrants. Replying to your inquiry it seems to this Government that in order to carry out the spirit of the Berlin treaty it would be advisable for the treaty powers to sustain in some proper and judicious way the present recognized authorities of Samoa. Assistance in support of the authority of the supreme court, if discreetly given, would seem to be well directed, and its moral and demonstrative effect might aid in quieting the existing troubles. I suggest, therefore, the wisdom of similar instructions being given by Her Majesty’s Government, by the Government of Germany, and by the Government of the United States, permitting any man-of-war of the three treaty powers which for the time being maybe present in Samoa to render such aid as may be necessary in executing the warrants of the supreme court, such aid to be limited strictly to that purpose and to be rendered by the man-of-war at the request of the consul of its country who will act in the matter if the consuls of the three powers shall jointly decide in any particular case that there is necessity for such aid and shall request the consul to have it rendered. I shall be glad to be acquainted with the views of Her Majesty’s government on this subject.
I have, etc.,