Baron Saurma to Mr. Gresham.
Washington, March 9, 1895.
Mr. Secretary of State: Supplementing my note of February 26, last, which has already been partially answered by your excellency’s note of March 5, last (No. 22), I have now the honor to inform your excellency that according to advices from the secretary of state for foreign affairs, of which I am just in receipt, the British Government has expressed its readiness to assume one-third of the estimated outstanding costs, amounting to about £400, for the surveying work in Samoa. The British Government at the same time submits the proposition to leave the winding up of the business of the land commission to the consuls of the three treaty powers, and this without the assistance of a special secretary.
The Imperial Government has expressed its concurrence to this, and in view of the declaration contained in your excellency’s note of December 31 last, it is led to believe that the Government of the United States will consent thereto and will instruct Consul-General Mulligan in Apia to take part, without further assistance of a secretary, in the settlement of the business of the land commission and to take the necessary steps for assuming one-third of the costs of the surveys.
While awaiting an expression in reply,
I avail, etc.,