File No. 2151/109–110.
American Legation,
Tangier
,
September 18,
1907
.
No. 268.]
The dean, while thus circulating the said letter, stated that he did
not do so in an official sense.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Praise to God Alone:
To the wise and honorable friend who seeks the good of and
friendship between the two powers, the minister and doyen of the
diplomatic corps at Tangier and representative of the Kingdom of
Portugal.
After Compliments:
Our Lord and Master the Great Sultan and Commander of the Kingdom
of Islam, our Lord and Master Abdel Hafid (may God grant to him
victory and assistance), has received from the people, of
Morocco the investiture of the Sultanate after the deposition of
our Lord Abdel Aziz. This deposition has taken place by a
decision of the Islamic law, and in the interest of the Moorish
Government and the integrity of the Empire.
My Master has ordered me to write to you, convinced as he is of
your friendship for His Majesty, that he protests against the
occurrences at Casablanca.
If one regards with humanity and justice what has happened to
Morocco, especially at Casablanca, the inhabitants of which were
the object of violence and aggression; 6,000 souls of them were
killed; the city was bombarded with inflammable explosives,
while the inhabitants were without defense. This spectacle,
frightful to see, makes the heart burn and cause the most
hardhearted to weep. You are not ignorant that this great
occurrence, which constitutes an attack upon public rights, is
contrary to the international treaties, which forbid the attack
of a city without defense by elements of destruction and by
mines, etc. Whoever claims that the serious occurrence at
Casablanca was caused by any necessity whatsoever, this can not
be admitted for several reasons. Moreover, there has never been
a precedent for such an occurrence, and such things have never
been heard of. Please take note of all this and do all that you
can in the way of observations and remarks in order to maintain
in their purity the relations of Morocco with the powers.
Moreover, no doubt one can count on a man such as you, who
possesses such keen intelligence and remarkable sagacity. May
God bless you.
Rejeb 7th, Holy,
Year 1325 (August 16,
1907):
The minister of the Sultan, fortified by the victory of God.
(Signed)
Mohamed Ben
Abdel-Kebir.
(May God preserve
him.)
