LAUPEPA SUSUGA MALIETOA: (1841-1898)

LAUPEPA SUSUGA MALIETOA: (1841-1898) King (Tafa'ifa) of Samoa 1875-87, 1889-98. A rare L.S., Malietoa, two pages, folio, Mulinu'u, 9th November 1891, to Henry C. Ide, in Samoan. The King states that he is in receipt of his correspondent's letter 'informing me that you had resigned your position as United States Land Commissioner in Samoa' further acknowledging that the resignation had been accepted by the President of the United States and a successor appointed, and remarking 'I am extremely sorry that family troubles have compelled you to resign a position you are so admirably fitted for. It has been a great pleasure to me to see the work of the Commission go on so smoothly and with such fairness to all parties concerned; my people feel that in you and your colleagues they had judges that would act fairly and fearlessly to all parties interested. I have no doubt your successor will be well worthy the trust his Government has placed in him and he must not think I mean otherwise'. With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by a photocopy of a complete contemporary English translation. Some slight traces of former mounting to the inner edges of the central vertical fold of the bifolium, not affecting the text or signature, and with some light creasing, otherwise VG

Henry Clay Ide (1844-1921) American judge, colonial commissioner and ambassador who served as Governor-General of the Philippines 1905-06.

American President Benjamin Harrison had appointed Ide to be Presidential Commissioner to Samoa in 1891 (Ide's formal title was American Land Commissioner in Samoa) as one of three representatives, along with Germany and Great Britain, responsible for adjuticating land claims by foreigners in the Islands as provided for in the Treaty of Berlin (1889). Ide only stayed in the post six months, leaving Samoa on 12th November 1891.