Mr. Chase to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of May 19, transmitting a copy of a despatch from the United States consul at Tangier, who encloses the form of a treaty proposed by his Majesty the Sultan of Morocco, for the assent of the commercial nations represented at his court, binding them to make annual contributions for the maintenance and repair of a light-house recently erected by the government of Morocco on Cape Spartel, at the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar from the Atlantic. It appears that Morocco, having no naval or commercial marine, is indisposed to assume any expense in this matter, beyond that incurred in building the light-house.
In the articles of agreement as originally draughted the minister of Spain resident in Morocco proposes certain amendments, and you state it as your impression that an arrangement in this modified form may have some political value.
In view of the peculiar circumstances of the case and of the consul’s statement as to the importance of the structure to the commerce of all nations trading in the Mediterranean, I am of opinion that the United States may very properly assume their proper share of the 15,000 francs to which the annual expense is limited.
Would it not be better, however, to pay their proper proportion of the principal, of which that sum would be the annual interest, and engage the Sultan by treaty to maintain the light?
The change of the first article suggested by the Spanish minister seems to be judicious, as it strikes out the proposed guarantee of the territorial sovereignty and ownership of the light-house, and substitutes a simple acknowledgment of the jurisdiction of the Sultan.
With great respect,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.