Answers to Mataafa's Letter.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 2, 6 October 1888, Page 3

Answers to Mataafa's Letter.

Last week we promised to publish the answers sent by the Consuls to Mataafa's communication to them. The United States Vice-Consul and the English Consul has replied as tolJows:--

Consulate General of the United States, *m « t7tb, 1888- - •Sir, —I have the honor to aoknow- ' ledge receipt of your HiehrteeV letter bearing date Sept. 9tb, 18n8, received only a few days ago, stating that yoii had been elected King of Samoa by the majority of the Samoan people, and that Tamasese and Brandeis were no longer the rulers of Samoa. Also, your request that an American citizen be allowed in connection with a British and a German to advise with your people as to the future governing of Samoa. It is the desire of the United States, and equally, we have been told, of Great Britain and Germany, to assist the natives of Samoa to form and administer their Government. Tt is quite evident from the results of the last few weeks that your Highness, Malietoa Mataafa. is the choice of the majority of the Samoan people for their King. And we all know that the only way peace can be preserved in a country, is to have for rnler of that country the favorite of the people. It is useless for any Monarch whose supporters are in the minority to try to maintain peace and order in aoountry, even when he is bolstered up by another nation. I regret very muoh that you Samoan . people should be forced to turn your guns against one another; father against son, and brother against brother. In these wars you are killing off gradually your own people. From what cause and for what reason? Simply the dissention created among you by the foreigners you have peaceably suffered to settle in your country, who have some little whim or fancy to carry out, to further their own selfish ends. It has been stated by Germany that her wish wss that the ehoioe of a King for Samoa should be- fret-ly made by the chiefs and people of Samoa. This is also the wish of Great Britain and the United States. In the choioa of your Highness, Malietoa Mataafa, by the people of Samoa to be their future King, f think the wish of the three Powers ha* been - carried out; and I can see, I think, I peace and prosperity in store for Samoa

after the present civil war is brought to » close, and your Highness recognised by the three Powers as King of Samoa, which, I trust, may be done without the loss of any more of yonr people. • A copy of yonr letter has been forwarded to Washington, and a full account of all that has transpired with reference to thia present civil war, so that in a few weeks T shall know what my Government intends to do. and receive instructions how I am to act. TheTnmasese-Brandeis Government never baa been recognised by the United States. I have the honor to be, Sir, Tour obodidn*. servant, (Siened) W. Bi.ahct-ock, U.S. Vice-Conmil General, Apia, Samoa. To his Highnpss, Malietoa Mataafa, Samoa. Your TTighneaa,—T have consulted with the Imperial German Consul, and he has given me his assurance that the Tamapese party will strictly adhere to the proposed arrangements for neutral territory provided your party do the same. T regret that stringent orders of my Government to observe neutrality render it impossible for me to answer further your correspondence which has been received up to date. (Signed) H. de Ooetloqajj. Bamoa, 19th Sept., 1888. s ,