File No. 2151/223–224.
Secretary of Legation
Philip to the Secretary of
State.
American Legation
Tangier, September 15,
1908.
No. 381.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
translations in French (from the Decanat) and English of an Arabic
letter received from the Sultan, Mulai Hafid, by the dean of the
diplomatic corps at Tangier on the 12th instant, which has only just
reached me. No [Page 646] action has as
yet been taken here as a result of this communication, the receipt of
which has been notified to the various Governments concerned by their
representatives.
As will be seen by the contents of the above letter, it consists of a
formal request for recognition as Sultan, by the powers signatories of
the Algeciras act; a complete acceptance of the conditions of the said
act and of all existing treaties made between, the powers and the
predecessors of Mulai Hafid, and requests the cooperation and assistance
of the powers in establishing and applying the reforms decided upon, for
the development of the country and for the mutual benefit of all foreign
nationals and the subjects of Morocco.
Thinking it important to inform the department of the receipt of the said
letter without delay, I obtained the gist of its contents from one of my
colleagues and telegraphed yesterday, the 14th instant, what appeared to
me of chief importance, namely, the request for recognition by Mulai
Hafid, adhesion to the Algeciras act and to treaties and other
engagements entered into by the predecessors of Mulai Hafid and foreign
powers. I also reported at the same time the death of Hadj Mohamed Ben
Arby Torres, the late Moorish minister for foreign affairs at
Tangier.
I beg to state that subsequent to a very careful perusal of the text of
the Arabic letter, it appears that no actual mention is made of the
adhesion of other existing engagements or encumbrances upon the Moorish
Government than those implied by treaties only.
On consideration, however, I have decided that the wording of my telegram
of the 14th instant, though including the words “other engagements,” is
not such as to create a misunderstanding on the part of the department,
and I have therefore refrained from sending an additional explanatory
message in regard to this statement which was made upon what I
considered absolutely reliable information.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
(Seal of Mulai Hafid.)
To His Excellency Count de Buisseret, minister plenipotentiary of the
friendly Belgian nation.
We render praise to God, the Almighty Ruler of His creatures, in
accordance with His laws and divine wisdom.
After compliments. You are aware that after we had addressed our last
letter to the friendly nations, we have been proclaimed Sultan of
this happy Empire, at Tangier and in other ports. This proclamation,
which has been for long hidden in the hearts of our subjects, has
followed our proclamation in the capitals and in the interior of the
country. Consequently we are obliged to exercise our sovereign
rights in this Empire and to take the necessary measures to
establish the security of our subjects and to those of the friendly
powers. Likewise his proclamation renders it specially necessary for
us to carry out the agreement which was arrived at between the
Moorish Government and the friendly powers by means of the
conference of Algeciras, and to put into effect such administrative
measures as were provided by the said agreement.
You will be aware that we will be unable to carry out these
obligations as long as our representatives at Tangier, who are
charged by us to deliberate jointly with the diplomatic corps and to
put the measures agreed upon into execution, for the welfare of the
country, are not recognized by the friendly powers as the
representatives of our Majesty: and you will realize what harm to
the contrary results from this state of affairs.
[Page 647]
We therefore beg your excellency to inform the honorable
representatives of the friendly powers of the above so that they
will bring the same to the knowledge of their respective
Governments, to enable them to come to an agreement and recognize us
as Sultan of this Empire, informing us of their decision through
you.
We have no need to dwell on the subject longer. Nevertheless, God
Almighty having guarded this fortunate Empire and having dilated the
hearts of our subjects to recognize our Majesty and to proclaim us
Sultan of the Empire, which has solid relations and well-established
rights with all the friendly powers; we declare that we recognize
the treaties concluded between our predecessors and the friendly
nations, especially the general act of Algeciras, which we look upon
as the foundation of prosperity and happy advancement of this
Empire, politically as well as economically, owing to the fact that
the said act guarantees, on the one side, the independence of this
Empire, and, on the other, the establishment of useful reforms.
We trust that the friendly powers will advance us their support, both
in the deliberations concerning these reforms, on which relies the
prosperity and welfare of our subjects, as well as in their
enforcement.
In peace.
Shaaban 9, 1326 (September 7,
1908).
