Evening star., 1900-12-01
WARSH|P TO BE SENT
Morocco VIII Have to Pay In
demuity.
PREPARATION FOR EZAGUFS MURDER
Consul General Gummere Going
to Sutan's Court.
TO SEEK ADJ e S I NJ E y Il

The department of State has recently
! again had under consideration the case OF
Marcus Ezagui, a naturalized citizen of the
| United States who was fouliy and brutaily
murdered at FeZ on June *, 1900.
Mr. Gummere. the consul general of the
| United States at Tangier, was directed
some time since to present a claim for IN
| demnity in behalf of the widow OF the
deceased, amounting to $1,000, because the
government of Morocco apparently eVlnced
no disposition to punish the culprts VINO
were known or to otherwise offer repara-
ton for the crime.
MorOccO's Claim.
| In answer to Mr.. Gummere's presenta-
| ton of the claim that government set up as
! a bal the provisions of article XIV OF the
| Maurid convention of July ), looo, which
| relates to the return to Morocco of nat
uraized citizen Of that origin, and says
that in case he shall remain for length
| of time equal to that which shall have been
| regularly necessary for him to obtain such
| naturalization, he shall choose between en-
| tire submission to the laws OF the empire
| and the obligation to quit Morocco, unless
| his naturalization shall have been acquired
with the consent of the Moroccan govern
| ment.
| The point that the government of Moroc-
| co sought to raise and enforce was that. IN
| asmuch as the murdered man had resided
in Morocco for five years. the time WITHIN
| which it was necessary for him to live IN
| the United States before naturalization
! could be legally procured here, he thereby
came within the purview oF article XIV and
his government was estopped from treating
him as citizen; in other words, that his
| temporary residence for business or other
| purposes in Morocco for such specified
period vitated Us acquired allegiance and
| reinvested him with that which he had
voluntarily and legally assumed
Unreasonable interpretations.
This was thought to be a harsh and un-
REASONABLE construction Of the treaty pro-
vision cited, and certainly not within keep
ing of its letter and spirit.
Moreover, it one, too, that had never
been assented to by the government of the
United States, or by any other of the sig
natory powers to that convention, far
was known. 1t meant, in plain words. that
no government could enforce its rights or
protect its citizens, the case arising, and
that all that was necessary to defeat the
ends of justice or to abSGlve Morocco from
any obligation of responsibility was to Per
nit such foreigner to peaceaby reside in
Morocco for given period and declare the
treaty provision in question as determining
his political status. Naturally, the govern
ment of the United States could not assent
to any such construction in the present in
stance.
MorOccO's Claim Disputed.
The treaty, it is held, invests Morocco
with no such power. Only the returning
naturallzed citizen shall choose which of
the alternative propositions he shall accept.
| In case he had been permitted to remain
within Moroccan jurisdiction without any
| intimation that his residence unduly
prolonged, undesirable his presence in
imi, al to the cause of good government in
I q
| or injury has been committed that it lies
| in the power of Morocco to declare herself
blameless and escape responsibility? Ger
| tainly not Morocco herself. it is contended.
| While it may be argued that if Ezagui
were living he might be required to adopt
| either alternative of the treaty yet ii can
| hardly be claimed with any degree of force
or reason, 1t is said, that because he may
/ have been required to submit to the laws
of Morocco quit the country, Morocco
| can be relieved from the obligation that
rests with every government to punish
crime committed wi hin its Jurisdiction or
| in default thereof, to make full and prop
| reparation to the person injured. Cou
I any government in justice to its interra-
| tional rights or in defense of those guar
! anteed to its citizens, 1t is asked, and and
see of them brutally murdered ard
admit that it had right to complain?
| Unquestionably the residence alone it is
maintained, does not of itself decide the
| question between the resumption of the
| citizens original allegiance and that of his
obligation to quit Morocco.
| Nor is it in the power of Morocco under
| the treaty to declare unless it can be
| shown that tor good and sufficient reasons
| she sought to enforce literal interpretat on
of the treaty after given period. This she
cannot do in the case of a man who, being
murdered, is thereby prevented from max
| Ing the choice allowed by the treaty.
Going to the Suitan's Court
| In view of the fact that no repres esenta-
no ,.t,+r Of h.
has for some years visited the sultan's
| court at Morocco city, the present has been
thought to be fitting occasion to send Mr..
Gummere there, with full power to close
| the case of the murdered man and the other
| CLAIMS that have been pending against The
| government of Morocco. These have lately
| been under discussion between the author-
! ties at Tangier and Mr.. Gummere, but
| without definite result. 1t is the State De-
partment's wish that end be put to these
matters. as We'll as that a guarantee be
| given that will prevent a repetition of the
| incidents that called them forth.
| The disposition of the government is en-
| tirely friendly, but it feels that in treating
| the cases at Tangier, such consideration
| as hey deserve has neither been given them
| nor Mr.. Gummere in their friendly discus
| sions, and the sultan alone has power to
| adjust them, which it is thought he Will do
Warship Ordered to Moroccan Waters.
1t has accordingly been arranged between
| the Department of State and the navy that
| a man-of-war shall be placed at the dispo-
sal Of Mr.. Gummere and suite to convey
| him to Mazagab. the point nearest to Mo-
| rocco city. and await his future movements
| in Moroccan waters. The ship will be or
| dered to Tangier at once and Mr.. Gummere
| Will be directed to avail himself of its pres
| ence for his transportation and return.
| s>
| BIG JUMP IN PRICE OF SALT