Was it weapons or ammunition that Fletcher had supplied?
But it is unfair to criticise these wrigglings of an unfortunate in a false position.
In a despatch of the 23rd, which has not been printed, Knappe had told his story: how he had declared war, subjected foreigners to martial law, and been received with a counter-proclamation by the English consul; and how (in an interview with Mataafa chiefs at the plantation house of Motuotua, of which I cannot find the date) he had demanded the cession of arms and of ringleaders for punishment, and proposed to assume the government of the islands.

On February 12th he received Bismarck's answer: "You had no right to take foreigners from the jurisdiction of their consuls.

The protest of your English colleague is grounded.

In disputes which may arise from this cause you will find yourself in the wrong.

The demand formulated by you, as to the assumption of the government of Samoa by Germany, lay outside of your instructions and of our design.