The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-17
PARTISAN OF RAISULI


Paris. July 16.--Ion~ Perdicaris ar
rived from Tangier today on an import
ant mission which will occupy the next
two weeks. He called at the American
Embassy. lengthily conferred with Am
bassador Porter and also arranged for
meeting with Foreign Minister Del
casse early next week.
Mr.. Perdicaris intends to urge on the
Government officials and parliamentary
leaders the necessity for the adoption
OF forcible policy towards Morocco as
the only means Of averting disaster.
He shows no Ill effects from his cap
tivity, but says Mrs. Perdicarfs, who
accompanied him here. suffered severely
from being thrown down a flight of
steps by Raisulis men, Mr.. Perdicaris
does not intend to make claim for in-
demnity. as he is now devoting his at
tention to the broader phases of the
serious situation in Morocco.
In the course of an Interview with
the correspondent of the Associated
Press. Mr.. Perdicaris said:
The situation at Tapgier has become
desperate. Strong measures are re-
quisite to avoid serious consequences.
Frances policy of pacific penetration
promises to be entirely Inadequate to
meet the danger.
THE present plan of sending forty
French-German officers to Tangier as q
means of stiffening the police there IL
likely to bring on the very catastrophe
France seeks to avoid. It will excite
intense anfmosity and IL an outbreak
occurs these forty officers would be
useless to maintain order. II, however.
large force, say 10000 men. is landed
1t would end all turbulence ana give a
lasting object lesson of French power.
Nothing short of some such decis-
i've action will sufficiently meet the
situation. 1t might involve skirm-
ish and possibly some bloodshed, but
1t would be insignificant compared with
the great menace of an extensive upris-
ing and possible massacre through a
policy of excessive mildness. France
has established a commanding position
in Algeria and Tunis through firmness
and requires the same policy in Moroc-
CO."
Asked II. in his opinion, the United
States should take further action In
Morocco, Mr.. Perdicaris said:
IF France fulfills her responsible
ties, well and good; otherwise, think
1t will be Statutory to have France TN
derstand that the failure to protect
foreigners may lead the United States
and other Governments to adopt means
for protecting her citizens"
Mr.. Perdicaris says he is prepared to
deal with the situation in Tangier.
Il know this will excite SURPRISE"
said M. Perdicaris. 'as the public has
the idea that Raisuli Is a common rob-
Der. This Is entirely erroneous. 4
consider Raisuli to be the strongest
man now available to deal with the tur-f
bulent conditions. While 1t would be
an experiment yet am convinced that
1t would De better to make the expert
t,,n hat n 20 all h. ell 49,
drift into complete anarchy. Raisuli
says he can maintain order, and 1 be-
lieve in giving him trial"
Mr.. Perdicaris says that Mr.. Gum
mere. American Consul-General, and the
British Minister at Tangier are strong
ly opposed to giving RaisuN any au-
thority. He pays high tribute to tho
American and British officials, but says
he thinks their opposition to Raisull
is the natural trouble he gave them
during the captivity Incident. With
the exception of these two. Mr.. Perdica-
ris says the foreign representatives ap-
prove of the plan of supporting Rat
suits course.
During the interview, Mr.. Perdicaris
gave the following description of Raj
suli:
is a man OF large stature and Of
commanding appearance. His dark,
heavily bearded race usually mas an
expression OF sternness, but 1t lights
when he speaks. He wears a white
turban and floating white and blue
robes which constitute the garb of a
Moorish gentleman as distinguished
from the rough costume of the noun
taireers. I believe him to be seriously
sincere. His taking me prisoner was
part of a political movement and the
demand for a ransom was due to re-
venge for a series of prosecutions
against him and family.