The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-19
MOROCCO'S QUEER THREAT
To Move the Court to Escape Con
sui General Gummere.
An Effort Of the sultan to Avoid
ReParHtiOn for American Claims
The ArmOred Cruiser New York
Sent TO Back Up Our Demands.


The Armored Cruiser New York
Sent TO Back Up Our Demands.
The American Government has new
cause of resentment against the Govern
ment of Morocco Yesterday instructions
were sent by telegraph to Mr. GUNNER,
the United States Consul General at Tan
gier 10 demand an apology for an 2ppar-
ent discourtesy to the United States by
the suItan's Grand Vizier and his Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs. The arm ored
cruiser New York the flagship Of Rear
Admiral Frederick Rodgers, is % back up
the demand by her presence at Mazigan'
the nearest port to what is now the
Moorish capital The capital is Morocco
CITY. but if the Grand Vizier and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs carry out
certain threats they have been making,
and for which the apology is to be de-
mauded. there is no telling where the
residence Of the Government of Morocco
will be when Mr.. Gummere starts over
land from Mazigan.
When one sovereign nation calls on an
other sovereign nation to apologize the
first nation is expected to resort to arms
if the apology is not forthcoming. 1t IS
not believed here that the apology VIII
he refused for the Sultan will find 1t
cbeaper to have his Grand Nizier and his
Minister Of Foreign Affairs humble them
selves before the United States than to
move his Court The actual expenses ~
a change of capital will not only be great
hgt the very act of moving viii be con-
str,Ied by the United States as an affront
and refusal to apologize. It may appear
ridiculous and exaggerated to say that
the American Government has served no
rice on the Sultan Of Morocco that he
must not move himself or capital but
that is practically the ultimatum that mas
been sent.
The trouble originated as follows: Last
J1,ne Marcus Ezegui. naturalized Amerl-
can citizen. was killed by a mob at Fee,
The mob burned him to death for firing
pistol at a Mussulman, with whom he
had an alteration in the street. This
Government demanded the punishment of
the leaders of the mob, who were well
known. but was unable to make the Sui
tan's Ministers do anything. Then the
State Department demanded 5000 as in
dennitv for the failure of Morocco to
punish the offenders. There was much
diplomatic correspondence and last No
vember the United States threatened TO
send a warship to Tangier The 5000 was
promptly paid and given to Ezegui
widow. who resides in New York.
The warship that was to go to Tangier
would have been sent in December or
January. but on representations that the
great Mohammedan feast would take
place at the time set, the Government in
consideration of the Sultan's religious
scr7Iples against transacting any business
while engaged in his annual devotions,
decided to postpone her visit until later
in the year Mr.. Gummere had been in
structed to see the Sultan and his Min
listers personally, and to insist not only
on the payment of the Ezegui indemnity.
but also to secure settlement Of the
other claims that had been pending for
long time These claims came largely
from the interference of Moorish officials
with men doing business in Morocco as
agents of American manufacturing con-
Germs.
The plan was to have the warship touch
at Tangier. take aboard Mr.. Gummere
and carry him to Mazigan, whence he
was to proceed overland to Morocco City.
the capital and the Sultan's residence
When the Ezegui claim was paid the
Moorish Government apparently believed
that the visit Of Mr.. Gummere to the
Sultans Court would be abandoned. Re
Gently, however it became known to the
Sultan and his advisers that the other
claims would be pressed.
The Moorish Court was thrown into a
great state Of excitement when Mr.. Gum
mere sent word Of his intention 20 peue-
trate TO the holy Of holes, the palace OF
his sublime Majesty the Sultan. 70 insist
on taking over mere matter of an as
eault on several unbelieveVs. The Grand