Sir Julian Pauncefote to Mr. Olney.
Washington, October 30, 1895.
Sir: Referring to Mr. Adee’s note, No. 160, of July 30, to Viscount Gough and to previous correspondence on the subject of controlling the sale of arms and ammunition in Samoa, I have the honor to inform you that Her Majesty’s Government have recently conferred with the German Government as to the necessity of controlling the traffic in dynamite in Samoa.
Her Majesty’s Government pointed out that the ordinance published on May 12, 1895, by the British consul at Apia for the prevention of the traffic in arms expressly includes explosives, while the latter are not included in the corresponding German ordinance or in the regulation in force in the municipality.
The German Government have now instructed their consul in Apia to extend the terms of his consular ordinance of July [June] 12, 1895, for the prevention of the traffic in arms, to explosives.
The German Government have, moreover, in accordance with the wish expressed by Her Majesty’s Government, issued instructions to the German consul to use his influence to obtain the extension of the regulation in question, issued for the municipality of Apia, to the case of explosives.
Acting under instructions which I have received from Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, I have now the honor to express the hope that your Government will favorably consider the possibility of subjecting American citizens in Samoa to regulations, as far as possible, similar to those applicable to British and German subjects, with respect to explosives, and will cause the necessary steps to be taken to that end.
I have, etc.,