File No. 594/15.
Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.
Tangier, July 19, 1907.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of instruction No. 101 of June 24, 1907a (file No. 594/13), inclosing a copy of a letter from the president of the Gospel Missionary Union, regarding the purchase and tenure by foreigners of real estate in Morocco, and requesting me to report on the points referred to by Mr. Fisher.
In conformity with said instructions, I have the honor to report that the procedure in Morocco as to the foreclosure of mortgages on real estate which are held by Jews, who are citizens of other nations, or by anyone else, is as follows:
When a sum of money is loaned on a mortgage on real estate in Morocco the title deeds of the real estate are delivered to the mortgagee as security for the sum loaned, and on default of payment of principal and interest when due a complaint is made to the kadi or judge, who thereupon gives notice to the mortgagor that if the sum due is not paid at a specified date the property will be sold at public sale. This notice is repeated three times, and if the sum due is not paid the property is sold by the kadi; in the case where a foreigner desires to purchase said property the kadi must refer the matter to the basha and obtain his consent before such a sale can be made.
I have further the honor to report that the consent of the Moorish Government must be obtained in the sale to a foreigner of property that has already been duly acquired by a foreign citizen.
I am, etc.,
- Not printed.↩