Answer of Mr. Pelissier to the circular of Mr. De Long.
Mr. Consul General: I have the honor to answer the letter you have addressed to me of the date of yesterday.
As the representative of a great and generous nation, as a man, I have not been able, although remaining a neutral looker on, to approve the conduct which [Page 414] you have thought you ought to take towards Messrs. Tunstall and Myers. I regret the disorder which was its consequence, but I thrust aside, as I ought, the participation which it has pleased you to suppose I had perhaps taken in the demonstration which took place at the American consulate on the 26th of last month. I do not know what can have led you to pretend to an explanation on the part of the French mission, and I am astonished at it. You should have reflected that an agent who respects himself could not, in a country like Morocco, give his assent to an attack directed against the hotel of a representative of a Christian power, friend or foe of his government.
I will now answer the strange passage of your letter, in which you seem to believe that I waited for the action of the local authority before giving orders to my countrymen. Your inquiries have been ill directed; Mr. Consul, you will allow me to tell you so. Quite on the contrary, I hastened, as soon as I knew what was passing at your house, to send a person employed at the mission to notify to the two or three Frenchmen, who might perhaps have been disposed to follow the crowd which was besieging your consulate, the order to withdraw themselves and to abstain from any hostile demonstration. Not one was found there, and it was afterwards only that Minister Bargass took his step with the consular corps.
I hope, Mr. Consul General, you will please to take into consideration the condescension which the agent of the French mission has practiced in answering your communication. I transmit, moreover, to my government, a copy of your letter and my answer.