Mr. Perry to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatches Nos. 10 and 11. My communication dated September 11 should have been numbered 49.
The Bey has recently organized a body-guard, composed of about 500 picked men. On my visit at the Bardo, on the 22d instant, these troops appeared out for the first time in a new zouave uniform. The epithet zouave is of Arabic origin, and has been employed here from time immemorial to indicate irregular troops. The Tunisian zouave uniform is of a brilliant scarlet color, and differs otherwise considerably from that designated by the same epithet in France and America. The Bey, dressed out in the same style, was cheered by his troops, and after passing them in review retired within his palace.
I afterwards had an extended conversation with the minister of foreign affairs respecting the political positions and relations of Tunis with other nations. I began by stating that though it is contrary to American policy to take an active part in European politics, it is my duty to obtain accurate information and communicate it to my government in regard to passing events, and the solution of questions of national interest. I then referred to the different views entertained [Page 462] in regard to the relations of Tunis with Turkey, France and other nations. The minister’s reply was substantially as follows:
“We claim to be politically independent. The Beys of Tunis have been for centuries untrammelled in their foreign relations and in their domestic administration. They have made treaties with foreign powers, and foreign representatives have been accredited directly to them, and the representatives of our government have been in most cases received with the same courtesy that we have shown. The actual Bey of Tunis is de facto independent, though in from he is yet subordinate to the Grand Sultan; but this form we maintain to be religious, not political, in its character. The Sultan is the chief of the Moslem hierarchy, and as such he is recognized and honored by the Bey. Prayers are offered in his behalf in our mosques in connexion with the Bey, and his name is stamped on our money, side by side with that of the Bey. The Bey regards the Grand. Sultan as his religious superior, and desires to maintain towards him the most grateful relation.”
The minister referred, in the course of his remarks, to the fact, that though France has by her acts recognized the Bey as an independent sovereign, her present consul has adopted a course of action as if the Bey was a subordinate French subject. On the contrary, though England refuses such a recognition of the Bey’s independence as is implied by the formal reception at court of the* Bey’s envoys, still her influence and bearing are in the main favorable to Tunisian prosperity and independence. The British consul recognizes the authority and competence of the Tunisian courts by himself appearing as a plaintiff before them.
The Emperor of Austria has recently, as I learn from the Austrian consul,. received an envoy of the Bey on two occasions, each time with full honors,. though the ceremonies occurred at the Emperor’s palace, just out of his capital, probably to avoid disturbing the susceptibilities of the Sultan. Italy last year gave to the Bey a decoration, such as is confined to independent sovereigns, but how the Bey’s envoy was afterwards received I am unable to state. Since my arrival here the Bey has sent an envoy twice to Madrid, and once to the following places, viz: Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, the Hague, and Brussels, at each of which places the envoy was received with all the honors that belong to a representative of an independent sovereign. There is no question, so far as I know, in regard to the Bey’s being de facto an independent sovereign. Even the English consul, who stoutly maintains for political reasons the suzerainty of the Sultan, virtually yields this point, but opposes the formal Recognition of the de facto independence until the Bey can have a satisfactory guarantee of his separate existence. The impression is general here that the progress of events tends towards the formal recognition of the Bey’s independence, together with a guarantee of his possessions by the high powers of Europe; and it is not improbable that the Sultan, seeing his inability either to possess himself of Tunis, or to protect the Bey in his possession of it, would readily assent to such an arrangement. It is certain that the conduct of the Sultan towards the Bey during the difficulties of the past season was friendly, and is now gratefully remembered. The reasons for the Bey’s desiring to be recognized and guaranteed as an independent neutral sovereign are numerous and important. At present the jealousies between France, England and Italy are such as to embarrass the government at every step. Whatever one consul wants, the other two consuls are almost sure to oppose and defeat. Thus no railroad can be built from here to Goletta, and improvements are checked on every hand.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.