File No. 41/54–58.
Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.
Tangier , December 12, 1906 .
Sir: I have the honor to report, in detail, the settlement arrived at between the grand vizier and myself regarding matters at issue between our respective Governments and citizens. As reported in my No. 4 of October 15, 1906, shortly after my arrival at the court, at the [Page 883] request of His Majesty the Sultan and of the grand vizier, I sent the following list to the latter, viz:
1. The demand that all American citizens be permitted to rent houses for dwelling purposes in any Moroccan city, as guaranteed by treaty, especially in the city of Mequinez. This was without exception the most difficult question I had to deal with while at the court. I was met with fair speeches and assurances, but could not secure any satisfactory conclusion for a long time. I, however, pressed the point as being the most important that I had submitted. I appealed to the Sultan personally and he gave me his assurance that a house would be secured. I thereupon sent my telegram of November 7, 1906,a announcing this. In the end, however, it was agreed that strict orders be issued to the governor of Mequinez that he should not raise obstacles in the way of the American missionaries there in securing a house, but on the contrary he should assist them in so doing and treat them with kindness, care, and favor. In accordance with this agreement a strong letter addressed to the governor of Mequinez was delivered to me and forwarded by me to Mr. George Reed, the senior missionary there, for presentation to the said governor. I trust that my efforts in this matter may meet with success and with the approval of the department.
2. The demand for an apology and indemnity in the Cohen affair at Tetuan, as approved by the department. The department will understand that the securing of the payment of any money at this time from the Moorish Government is almost an impossibility. All matters had to be prepared and discussed, firstly between Sid Dris Lukilly, under secretary of state, and Mr. A. J. Nathan, special interpreter of my mission, assisted by Sid Thamy Slawe, American protégé for signal services, and submitted to the grand vizier and myself from time to time. In this way days were consumed, and at times it seemed as if no conclusion could ever be arrived at. However, at critical moments discussion took place between the vizier and myself, and, at length, a solution was arrived at in each case.
In this Tetuan case, as the department is aware, the demand was for an apology for the outrage against an American citizen and the payment of an indemnity of $12,000 Moorish money. The apology was granted at once, but any money payment absolutely refused; an offer was made to investigate, but I submitted the testimony already taken in the case and rested on my original demand; then an offer to pay $1,000 was made, and gradually this was raised to $4,000; I offered to accept a payment of $7,000, and finally I compromised for $6,000 in full payment for damages in the matter. After many endeavors to reduce this amount, it was finally agreed to and the amount, $6,000 Moorish money, paid in silver to me and transported to Tangier. I have summoned Mr. Cohen here from Tetuan, and this day have paid to him the said sum of $6,000 Moorish money in settlement of his claim and have received from him a duplicate receipt for same, the original of which I beg to inclose herewith. I would mention that Mr. Cohen expresses satisfaction with the settlement arranged by me in the matter. I trust that it may also secure the approval of the department.
[Page 884]3. A request that certain robberies, committed by governors or kaids, in the country, which I had brought to the attention of the grand vizier from time to time, be investigated, and in cases where guilt was proven, recompense be awarded.
Under this head, the first case to be investigated was that of the robbery of property belonging to Mr. Solomon Benatuil, an American naturalized citizen, and Sid Thamy Slawe, American protégé, by certain people under the protection of Muley El Kebir, the Sultan’s brother. In this case the parties were summoned and after the matter had been fully investigated the defendants were adjudged guilty and ordered to pay the sum of $2,000 Moorish money as a compromise. The said amount was accordingly paid to me, and by me paid to the said Benatuil and Slawe in full settlement of their said claim, and duplicate receipt taken for same, the originals of which are inclosed herewith. The second case to be considered under this head was that of the robbery of certain property belonging to Mr. Solomon Benatuil, an American citizen, by Boabid, kaid of Erwa; in this case, after a close investigation or the testimony submitted by Mr. Benatuil, it was finally settled by the payment to me of the sum of $5,000 Moorish money; this amount I have paid over to Mr. Benatuil and taken his duplicate receipts for the same, and beg to inclose herewith the original thereof. The third case to be considered under this head was the robbery, near Casablanca, of a large number of bullocks, the property of Mr. Joseph R. Gazes, a naturalized American citizen. This robbery was charged as having been perpetrated by the employees of the governor of Casablanca, who, however, denied this and alleged that a neighboring kaid, who was in rebellion, had been the robber. I have been pressing for an investigation of this matter for some months, and it was finally agreed that an immediate and thorough investigation be made, and if it was proven that the robbery had been committed by anyone under government control, the value of what was stolen should be at once paid to Mr. Cazes; if, however, it was proven that the robbery was committed by those living in disquiet districts, it was agreed that restitution be deferred until the country be peaceful. Letters to this effect addressed to Sid El Hadj Mohamed Ben Arby Torres, minister of foreign affairs, were given to me for delivery to him. The fourth case to be considered under this head was that of Mr. Isaac Coriat, an American naturalized citizen; this was a claim for money alleged to be owing to him by certain debtors at Morocco city, which the department had adjudged was a private matter and in no sense a claim. It was agreed that this case should be settled with the assistance of the governor of Morocco city and that certain sums which had already been decreed to belong to Coriat should be paid to him at once. Letters to this effect, addressed to the governor of Morocco city, were given to me to be delivered to him.
The fifth case under this head was the demand of Moise Amar Ben Luaree, an American protégé, for the payment of certain sums alleged to be due to his father’s estate by two citizens of Mequinez. This had also been adjudged a private claim by the department, and it was agreed that both parties should submit their case to the judges and wise men of Fez and that their decision in the case should be binding.
[Page 885]Lastly, that the matter of the outrage on the son of Thamy Slawe, an American protégé, be examined into and due punishment awarded.
In this matter I beg to report that on arrival at Alcazar El Kebir, on my journey to Fez, I was met with the news that the kaid, or commander of the troops there, who had sheltered the guilty soldier from punishment and allowed him to escape, had been arrested by order of the Government. I was at once besieged by prayers to pardon this man, but refused to interfere in any way. On my arrival at Fez I was immediately importuned to agree to his release, but also refused to discuss the matter, except in due course of business. When the case was discussed, on the ground that it was not clearly proven that he had really facilitated the escape of the guilty man and that he had already undergone three months’ imprisonment, and was thus punished in any case, it was agreed that he be released and the case thus closed.
Thus all of the matters submitted for discussion, as reported to the department, were settled and the principal matters in dispute cleared away. Altogether the sum of $13,000 Moorish money was paid to me in said settlements.
I am, etc.,
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