No. 635.
Mr. Hunter to Mr. Maynard.
Washington, September 9, 1875.
Sir: Your dispatch No. 17, of the 16th ultimo, has been received. It relates to what is called the affair of Tripoli. It is to be regretted that the Ottoman government should have shown that apparent anxiety upon the subject which your dispatch indicates. Even now, the Department has received nothing in writing from Mr. Vidal in regard to it. A telegram from him reached here, stating that he had been insulted, and as this showed a state of feeling in that quarter in respect to him which might lead to other acts of a more serious character, the Navy Department was asked to send a man-of-war thither, not, as is supposed, to demand satisfaction, but to report upon the facts. The [Page 1310] consul would also probably have been received on board if his continued residence at Tripoli should be deemed inconvenient. The fact that a man-of-war had been ordered, to Tripoli was mentioned in the newspapers without the agency of this Department, and, having attracted the attention of Aristarchi Bey, he telegraphed to his government, as you report.
Of course it would be premature to express an opinion in regard to Mr. Vidal’s complaint against the Tripolitan government until his written statement shall have been received.
Aristarchi Bey addressed a note to Mr. Fish requesting that the naval vessel might be withdrawn from Tripoli, reserving the dispute for adjustment through the diplomatic channel. The request was complied with. On that very day, however, there was telegraphic intelligence that the affair had been settled, and that the vessel had left Tripoli. This, of course, was before any orders for her withdrawal could have reached her.
It may be a fact that Tripoli is a more immediate dependency of the Porte than any other of the so-called Barbary states, such as Tunis and Morocco. The fact, too, may have been practically and formally recognized by other powers. It cannot, however, be ascertained that it has in any official way been acknowledged by this Government. We have never applied at Constantinople for the recognition of any consul of the United States at Tripoli, and our treaties with the Bey, and in particular that of 1805, are regarded as in full force. It is no doubt desirable that, for the maintenance of those friendly relations with the Porte which we have no disposition to weaken, there should be a clearer understanding between the two governments upon this question. Proper steps for this purpose will probably soon be adopted.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Acting Secretary.