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Your dispatch has been read with much gratification, and the department avails itself with pleasure of the opportunity to express its confidence that this manifestation of the friendly regard of the Government and people of the United States for the Shereefian Empire will beneficially inure to the mutual relations of the two countries.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT BACON,
Acting Secretary.

RIGHT OF AMERICAN OWNERS OF VESSELS PURCHASED ABROAD TO FLY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.

No. 87.]

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier, May 21, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to report that I have been to-day informed by the Spanish minister that he received a telegram from the Commandant of Melilla (Spanish colony near Ceuta, on the Mediterranean), with the following information: That on the 18th instant the small steamer Manolita, flying the American flag, with a Spanish captain and crew, proceeded from Tetuan to Penon with 15 passengers, all Moors; that, either owing to the weather or some accident to her machinery, she put into a beach on the Riff coast, called the Pescadores, for the purpose of landing her passengers and making repairs. Almost at once a large number of natives appeared on the beach, swam out to the Manolita, and boarded her; they seized a small boat which had been launched, and threatened to carry off all her passengers. After some altercation, however, they eventually departed, carrying away with them three of the native passengers and some of their effects. The Manolita thereupon, as soon as possible, resumed her journey, and on arriving at Penon reported the outrage to the Spanish authorities there.

The department will recall that in my No. 584, of May 16, 1904, I reported the purchase of a boat by Mr. Joseph R. Cazes, a naturalized American citizen, and the authorization granted to sail the said vessel under the American flag, all the required formalities having been observed. This boat was called the Manolita.

On April 4, 1905, Mr. Cazes sold the aforesaid vessel to one Isaac Pinto, a Spanish subject, and a short time after, on April 14, 1905, the said Pinto resold the boat to one Leon Osiel, of Tangier, a naturalized American citizen, who, having fulfilled the requirements of the consular regulations, was duly authorized to sail the vessel under the American flag; and it was this boat which, according to the telegram received by the Spanish minister, has suffered the outrage on the Riffian coast.

I have thanked the Spanish minister for his courtesy in giving me the information, but shall await further confirmation before addressing a strong remonstrance to the Moorish Government on the subject. I will report again to you as soon as I have more information. I might here add that the British minister informs me that he has just been informed of the capture of three sailors from a

British vessel on the same coast, which has always been considered a dangerous one, as the natives there are a lawless set, practically under no control from the Moorish Government.

I am, sir, etc.,

No. 88.]

S. R. GUMMERÉ.

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier, May 22, 1906. SIR: With reference to my No. 87, of the 21st instant, I have the honor to report further regarding the boat Manolita, as follows: Shortly after the said boat was duly registered by Leon Osiel, a naturalized American citizen, it was reported to me that Isaac Pinto, a Spanish subject from whom Osiel had bought the boat, was a notorious smuggler. I accordingly sent for Mr. Osiel and warned him what I had heard concerning Pinto, and that I also understood that the said Pinto was to have charge of the management of the boat. Osiel assured me that he had never heard of Pinto's reported reputation, and that the boat was used in genuine coast trade. I thereupon dismissed him with a warning.

On the 14th of April, 1906, I received a letter from Sid Mohamed Ben Arby Torres, the Sultan's representative at Tangier, complaining that one Isaac Pinto, of Tetuan, a Spanish protégé, was smuggling cartridges on the Riff coast, and while doing so was flying the American flag, etc. A translation of the said letter is inclosed.

I at once replied to his excellency that I had reason to believe that the boat in question belonged to an American citizen, and, being duly registered, had the right to fly the American flag; that this, however, gave no license for illegitimate business, and if proof was furnished of such business no hindrance to the enforcement of the penalties of the law would be interposed by this legation. A copy of my said letter is herewith inclosed. To-day I am informed by the Spanish minister that the said Isaac Pinto sails another small vessel under the Spanish flag, and that he had lately received from Sid Torres a complaint similar to the one addressed to me, to which he had virtually given the same reply as mine.

When I received the complaint from Torres, I sent for Leon Osiel, the reputed owner of the boat, and not only told him of the said complaint, but warned him that if they were found to be true the consequences to himself would be very serious.

Although exaggerated reports as to an outrage on an American boat are rife here at Tangier, I have received no visit or complaint regarding the same from Mr. Osiel as yet; with other circumstances makes me suspect that the Manolita, at the time of the reported outrage, was engaged in some smuggling transaction. The very fact of the boat being on the Riff coast, where there is no legitimate trade, and where the bulk of contraband in arms, etc., is carried on, would seem to give foundation for such suspicion.

It is a question in my mind, in view of the various reports and complaints regarding the said Pinto, whether the authorization to fly the American flag on the Manolita should not be canceled, and I should be glad of your instructions regarding the same.

I am, sir., etc.,

S. R. GUMMERE.

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.]

The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Minister Gummeré.

(After compliments:) We beg to bring to your excellency's notice that we are informed that the steamer belonging to Isaac Pinto, of Tetuan, a Spanish protégé, landed a large quantity of cartridges on the Riff coast at Bocoya, and that when he wants to land something at that place he flies an American flag; we inform your excellency of this so you may investigate into the matter; for, if he is caught, no defense could be afforded him, as he is flying an American flag fraudulently; and we inform you of this and remain in peace and with joy. Safar 19th, 1324. April 14, 1906.

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No. 32.1

Minister Gummeré to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier, April 19, 1906. (After compliments:) I have the honor to acknowledge your excellency's letter of the 14th instant, informing me that a steamer belonging to Isaac Pinto, a Spanish protégé of Tetuan, has landed a quantity of cartridges on the Riff coast, and that when engaged in so doing he flies the American flag.

In reply I have to inform your excellency that the boat in question, I have reason to believe, belongs to an American citizen of Tangier, one Leon Osiel, and, being duly registered, has the right to fly the American flag. This, however, is no license for the carrying on of illegitimate business, and I need not assure your excellency that nothing of the kind will be tolerated by this legation. If any boat flying the American flag is proved to be engaged in any illegitimate business, upon such proof being furnished to me, there will be no hindrance interposed by this legation to the enforcement of the penalties of the law.

In peace.

(Signed)

S. R. GUMMERÉ.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Gummeré. No. 42.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 28, 1906. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your No. 87, of the 21st ultimo, in regard to the boarding of the steamship Manolita, flying the American flag, by Riffians, who carried away three of her native passengers, and of your No. 88, of the 22d of the same month, transmitting correspondence with the Moorish Government in connection with a charge that the Manolita is engaged in smuggling, in which you report that doubt exists as to the bona fide American ownership of the vessel, and request instructions as to whether her authorization to fly the American flag should not be canceled.

It is believed that no right to cancel the consular registration of the vessel exists because the owner of the Manolita has been engaged in smuggling or has committed any other crime, but that if it should appear that the boat is not a bona fide American vessel the right to cancel the consular registration and withdraw American protection exists.

The fact that the Manolita was formerly owned by one Pinto, a reputed smuggler, and is now managed by him, and other facts which

you report, lend color to the suspicion that the vessel is not in fact. of American ownership. If it should be so found, and not otherwise, it would be proper to withdraw American protection and cancel the consular registration of the Manolita.

I am, etc.,

No. 90.]

ROBERT BACON.

MURDER OF A FRENCH CITIZEN AT TANGIER.

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier May 31, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to report that on the evening of May 27, 1906, one Mr. Albert Charbonnier, clerk in the bank of the Compagnie Algérienne, at Tangier, while riding on the beach, about 3 miles beyond Tangier, was murdered and the body robbed of all valuables, all in full daylight. It is supposed that the outrage was committed by a native or natives, but thus far no clues have been discovered. I have extended my condolences to the French minister, whom I found much irritated at the indolence of the Moorish authorities in the matter.

The outrage is the more serious in that the beach at Tangier has always been used by way of a pleasure ground for the citizens and is almost the only place which has been regarded as safe for riding and walking. I must, however, state that the murdered man had ridden rather farther than is considered prudent, especially as he was alone. I am, etc.,

S. R. GUMMERÉ.

No. 91.]

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier, June 9, 1906. SIR: In further confirmation of my No. 90, of May 31, 1906, reporting the murder of May 27 of Mr. A. Charbonnier, a French citizen, I have the honor to report that two French cruisers of the first class, Jeanne d'Arc and Kléber, and the third-class cruiser Galilée have arrived at Tangier to support the French minister in his endeavors to secure the apprehension and punishment of the murderers, and in such other demands as he may make to the Moorish Government. I am, etc.,

No. 103.]

S. R. GUMMERÉ.

Chargé Philip to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,
Tangier, July 4, 1906.

SIR: I have the honor to report that the French minister to Morocco, Monsieur Saint-René Taillandier, has informed me that the Sultan of Morocco has to-day given entire acquiescence to the demands of France in the case of the murder near Tangier of the French citizen,

M. Charbonnier, as reported in dispatch No. 90, of May 31, 1906, from this legation.

The demands in question were formulated under four principal headings, which, briefly stated, were as follows:

1. Apprehension and punishment of assassins.

2. Offer of a complete apology.

3. Indemnity of francs 100,000.

4. Granting of a piece of ground at the spot where the murder was committed for the erection of a commemorative monument. His excellency expressed himself as entirely satisfied with the manner in which the Moorish Government has brought to a termination. this very regrettable affair.

I beg to state that the representatives of the various powers in Morocco, without exception, displayed entire sympathy with the French demands in this matter, and it was generally hoped that it would be possible to create such a strong and salutary effect upon the natives of the surrounding districts as would tend to preclude the possibility of a recurrence of acts of a similar nature. It is much to be regretted, however, that the apprehension of the assassins does not appear at all certain, and in this connection the Moorish Government was only able to promise their arrest and punishment at some future time.

To such an extent has the disregard for the authority of the Maghzen become infused among the Moors inhabitating certain districts about Tangier that the fact of the murderers of the Frenchman Charbonnier (they are known to be several) having made their way into the mountainous district of the Anghera tribe, the limits of which reach to within 2 miles to the east of the town, appears to be generally considered as rendering their punishment impossible, owing to the entire lack of governmental authority there at present.

The French Government having brought the affair to as satisfactory an issue as was possible, it remains to be hoped that the Maghzen will be able to apprehend the murderers as promised.

I have in conclusion to state that the French admiral has notified the Moorish foreign minister that he will to-morrow morning salute the town, which has not previously been done, and will at an early date withdraw the French war ships from this port.

I am, etc.,

HOFFMAN PHILIP.

EXTRADITION OF PAUL STENSLAND FROM MOROCCO.

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier, September 6, 1906.

SIR: I have the honor to report as follows: On the evening of August 31, while at Gibraltar securing supplies for my mission, I was called on by Mr. Keeley, of the Chicago Tribune, bearing a letter of introduction from Mr. Vignaud, secretary of embassy at Paris, in which Mr. Keeley was strongly recommended to me and requesting my good offices in a delicate mission in which he was engaged. Mr. Keeley then informed me that, accompanied by a

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