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
Reparntion for American Claims
The Armored Cruiser New York
Sent to Back Up Our Demands


The American Government has a new
cause of resentment against the Govern
ment of Morocco. Yesterday instructions
were sent by telegraph to Mr.. Gumm1ra
the United States Consul General at Tan
gier. to demand an apology for an appar-
ent discourtesy to the United States by
the Sultans Grand Vizier and his Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs. The armored
cruiser New York, the flagship Of Rear
Admiral Frederick Rodgers. is 20 back up
the demand by her presence at Mazigan,
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 se 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
if the apology is not forthcoming. It is
not believed here that the apology will
be refused for the Sultan will find it
cheaper 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 Of
a change of capital will not only be great,
but the very act of moving viii be con-
strued by the United States as an affront
and refusal to apologize. 1t may appear
ridiculous and exaggerated to say that
the American Government has served no
tice on the Sultan of Morocco that he
must not move himself or capital but
that is practically the ultimatum that has
been sent.
The trouble originated as follows: Last
June Marcus Ezegui. naturalized Ameri-
can citizen, was killed by mob at Fee.
The mob burned him TO death for firing
a pistol at a NTussulman, 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
demnity 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 Ezeguis
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 AIohammedan feast would take
place at the time set, the Government, in
consideration of the Sultans religious
scruples 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
listers personally and to insist not only
on the payment of the Ezegui indemnity
but also to secure a 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
sultan's 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 to peue- !
trate to the holy of holies. the palace OF |
his sublime Majesty the Sultan. TO insist |
on talking over a mere matter of an as
sault on several unbelievers. The Grand |