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MOROCCO.

ABDUCTION OF ION PERDICARIS BY BANDITS.

NOTE. See also under France, p. 307, and Great Britain, p. 338.)
Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram. Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,

Tangier, May 19, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that on the night of the 18th of May, about 8.30 o'clock, a band of natives headed by a bandit named Raisuli, who kidnaped Mr. Walter Harris the year previous, broke into the country house of Mr. Perdicaris, a prominent American citizen, and carried away Mr. Perdicaris and his stepson, Mr. Varley, a British subject. Mr. Perdicaris's house is situated about 3 miles from Tangier. The consul-general and the British minister have informed the Sultan's deputy that the Moorish authorities are to be held personally responsible, and in order to secure the release of the captives they have insisted that any terms demanded by Raisuli be immediately granted. They are also dispatching a special courier to the court to have the Sultan's deputy instructed to comply with such requests as they may make.

The consul-general regards the situation as serious, and asks that a man-of-war be sent to enforce the demands.)

Mr. Loomis to Mr. Gummeré.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, May 19, 1904.

(Mr. Loomis informs Mr. Gummeré that a war vessel has been ordered to Tangier, but that it may not arrive there for three or four days.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, May 20, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports no terms have yet been received from Raisuli, who has carried the captives to the mountains, where it is impossible to pursue him. The aid of the Moorish authorities is given in every way. The presence of a ship of war will be of great assistance.)

Mr. Loomis to Mr. Gummeré.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT of State,
Washington, May 20, 1904.

(Mr. Loomis instructs Mr. Gummeré to urge the authorities of Morocco to make energetic efforts to secure the release of Mr. Perdicaris, and also to punish his abductors, if practicable.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, May 22, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that negotiations for the release of the captives have begun, the terms of which will be reported later. The captives have been communicated with and are well treated.)

Mr. Loomis to Mr. Gummeré.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, May 22, 1904.

(Mr. Loomis instructs Mr. Gummeré to work actively in behalf of Mr. Perdicaris and to forward full reports of any progress that may

be made.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, May 25, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that the Sultan has sent vigorous instructions to authorities to act under the direction of the British minister and himself. The negotiations for the release of the captives most unsatisfactory and the situation at Tangier not reassuring. The arrival of the war ship, from which he has so far received no intelligence, is anxiously awaited.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, May 29, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that the lives of the captives have been threatened unless Raisuli's terms are granted and adds that every hour's delay may be serious.)

FR 1904 M- -32

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,

Tangier, May 30, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports the arrival of the American man-of-war Brooklyn, and that there have been no further developments.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,

Tangier, June 1, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports the arrival of Admiral Jewell with the Mediterranean Squadron.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.- Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, June 8, 1994.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that the Sultan, through the grand vizier, has expressed his regret for the outrage, and is willing to do everything possible to secure the release of the captives. The minister for foreign affairs states that he is instructed to send his son and Raisuli's relatives to negotiate with him, paying whatever money may be agreed upon, and offering to remove the governor of Tangier and send him to Fez, appoint Raisuli over Zeenat and Briesh, release certain prisoners and guarantee the release of others, and attend as soon as possible to the arrest of certain chiefs.

Mr. Gummeré adds that in the meantime the Moorish Government must be held responsible for the safety of the captives.

Efforts are being made to send the fleet's surgeon to Mr. Perdicaris, who is ill.

A British man-of-war arrived on the 7th.)

Mr. Hay to Mr. Gummeré.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 9, 1904.

(Mr. Hay informs Mr. Gummeré that while the President desires everything possible to be done to secure the release of Mr. Perdicaris, the United States is not to be put in the position of guaranteeing any concessions made by the Sultan to the bandits. It should be clearly

understood that if Mr. Perdicaris should be murdered, the life of the murderer will be demanded, and in no case will the United States be a party to any promise of immunity for his crime. Anything which may be regarded as an encouragement to brigandage or blackmail should be avoided in the negotiations.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, June 10, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré acknowledges the receipt of the Department's instructions and reports that in the endeavor to accomplish the release of the captives all possible efforts have been made. Pardon was offered by the British minister and himself without any other condition immediately after the outrage if the captives were released on a fixed date. That offer was rejected. Since this was reported through the British minister for foreign affairs, the consul-general has had no negotiations with bandit, having consistently impressed upon the Moorish Government, as previously reported, that the Government of the United States held it responsible for the life and the speedy release of Mr. Pedicaris and that all negotiations must be conducted by it. To accede to all the bandit's demands is the only means the Moorish Government has to procure the release of the captives. The Government has no authority, for the present at least, over these mountaineers. The bandit could never be caught and nothing could save the captives' lives if the negotiations were broken off. The Sultan's order to secure the captives' release is not being carried out vigorously by the minister for foreign affairs, but in accordance with the demands of the British minister and Mr. Gummeré he has promised active negotiations next Sunday or Monday. Strict attention will be given to carrying out the instructions of the Department.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, June 11, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that a further account of Mr. Perdicaris's serious illness has been received. Muley Ahmed, who is in Tangier, has received a letter from his brother, Shereef Muley Ali, who is with the captives, saying that if he can do so secretly Raisuli will permit him to bring Mr. Perdacaris down and will hold Mr. Varley alone, but not to come if the Sultan's answer to the demands was received. Muley Ahmed declared, in a conference with British minister, that although he was willing to go after Mr. Perdicaris, in

bringing him through the other tribes he was positive they would take him away and then make demands of their own. The Sultan's acquiescence to the demands having been received, Mr. Gummeré decided, after mature consideration, that the risk of bringing captives at this time was too great. The minister for foreign affairs, however, in accordance with Mr. Gummeré's demand for immediate action in carrying out the Sultan's orders has promised to send a negotiator to-morrow morning, and asserts that the prisoners, money and everything, are in readiness for the exchange of the captives.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram. Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, June 14, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports that a letter from one of the Shereefs of Wazan has been shown to the British minister in which it is stated that guaranties are demanded by the brigand, from the British minister and himself, that neither Raisuli nor his tribe will be molested by the Moorish Government, but allowed to till their fields; and that the arrest of the sheiks in accordance with his demands shall be accomplished within a month.

Mr. Gummeré adds that it would be well to await the return of the messenger of the minister for foreign affairs, in order to learn whether the guaranties are really demanded. That his instructions forbid his giving such guaranties is fully understood by, ConsulGeneral Gummeré.)

Mr. Gummeré to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE-GENERAL,
Tangier, June 15, 1904.

(Mr. Gummeré reports the receipt by the minister for foreign affairs of a reply from the brigand in which further demands are made, namely, the release of some additional prisoners, four districts to be handed over to him, and his requirement of the arrest and imprisonment of the sheiks to be complied with. It is the intention of the minister for foreign affairs to grant these further demands. In his letter the brigand states that the British minister and ConsulGeneral Gummeré will probably be approached by him on this point through other channels than the Moorish authorities. Mr. Perdicaris has been informed by the brigand, as the Shereef of Wazan was previously informed, that guaranties as to immunity will be required from the British and American Governments, but as to the guaranty of the imprisonment of the sheiks nothing was said by him to-day.)

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