The Washington times., 1904-11-27
GUMMERE'S TASK
NOT A SIMPLE ONE
Regarded as Nobody Id
Morocco.
HIS RANK is INADEQUATE
Has Pleasant Things to Say About the
Empire, But He Should Be
a Minister
HIS RANK is INADEQUATE


TRENTON, y. J.. Nov. 26.-Samuel r.
Gummere. consul general at Tangier.
Morocco, is at his home in Trenton. TN
leave
Mr.. Gummere conducted the negotia-
tions for the release OF Ion Il. Perdi-
caris, the American citizen haId Tor
ransom by Moorish brigands last spring,
but he is reluctant To talk or the stirring
times IN which he was one Of he Ccn-
tral figures. during the eight. weeks or
parleying. persuading ana threatening
before the Sultan could be brought TO
realize that this Government meant 10
protect It's people at any cost. and that
he would be held responsible for any
harm that might come TO Perdicaris.
A Great Strain.
1T was great straig." Mr.. Gummere
says, and il came TO be something Of
bore before Il was over ia rather not
bother aaybody with IL. There surely
was enough about the incident in the
papers.
But l am glad OF this opportunity 10
explain The great disadvantage that my
position placed me in. There are twelve
Representatives of foreign powers at
Iangier. and all OF them except my
SELF have the rank OF minister. They
are brought 20 their posts on board men
Of-war. and greeted with the exchanges
OF salutes 10 which their positions en-
title them. while the representative Of
the United States comes from Gibraltar
on the ferrybOat. and If he happens TO
be met by a few personal friends, E, Is
his particular good fortune.
The fact that my rank is merely that
OF consul general, while I have fall
powers and am in every way received On
terms OF equality in the diplomatic
circle Of the foreign powers. has an in
furious effect upon the estimate in which
this country Is held by the Sultan and
his court.
Rank Is Everything.
ITO a semi-barbaric potentate. rank is
everything. as you will understand when
! tell You that. although the ministers
are given audiences by the Sultan. no
representative OF this Governmen, has
ever been received by him. This is. OF
course. unpleasant for the representa-
tive. and IL is. moreover. a tremendous
handicap 10 American progress in
Morocco. over there they hold Us very
cheap. Our success in the Spanish war
did give US some prestige. particularly
as the MOors hate the Spanish with a
bitterness Of which only such a fanati-
cal race. is capable. but when Ne paid
Spain 100000 for the Philippines. and
sent our prisoners home. instead OF de-
manding S20000.0O0 from her ana cut
ting the threats OF the captives. We sunk
back again 10 our original position in
the Moorish mind. below Portugal and
Belgium and the lesser powers.
Through this lack or recognition, or
whatever il may be- We are not able 70
make the terms with Morocco that other
nations get. and il would be well worth
our while 10 pay some attention 10 this
Wealthy Country.
1t Is an immensely wealthy country.
as fertile in parts as any in the world,
and rieh IN almost every kind OF mineral
deposit. but II is absolutely undeveloped
And Il is the policy OF the government
10 keep il 50. Trade Is almost prohibited
between different parts OF the country.
In years when Tangier has suffered
frightfully from famine. IL was not per-
mitted 10 bring grain by sea from the
districts 10 miles down the coast The
wheat vas rotting there in the fields,
and women and children in Tangier
were diving, but the firman could not be
disobeyed
50 % Is with everything, but in time
All this viii be changed. and the open
door win come. IL is bound 10. Now.
however, what little trade there Is with
the coast towns Is ali carried on by
Europeans. We have none OF il: Great
Britain has two-thirds: France and Ger
many divide the rest; the United States
is not "a competitor.
Not that our goods do not go there.
Tor quantities OF American petroleum
and Hour are imported annually but
the trade is not direct European mid
dlemen MAKE the profits ,nac mignt INST
as well come here. II is little curious
though that about the orIy commodity
exported from Morocco comes almost al
together 10 Philadelphia is goat
skins
No Trade Relations.
1T does seem too bad that ,ve are
not making real e1orr 20 establish
better relations. automatically and COM
mercially. with a country that Is bound
before long 10 be The scene ~ wonder
ful development
SO "-r' NNft-'taAlHllE hkrtE .lIW. Lle
whole land is Ia an uproar. The .I.v al
Tangler Is practically tn only Dlace|
that foreigner can live IN at an and
even there IL is not safe 10 venture i've
miles from town without a heavy euari
Bands OF Outla IS raid and 9lunder ev-
eryWhere. Every tribe Is OUT against
every other iri5". ard ail are IA revolt
against the governIa &. With h.,s necn
- corrupt and cruel that u is hardy =,
b wondered at that tAe country is In a
stale OF anarchy
THAT man Raisuli. who is nothing bi,t
q common rObbcr and cattle litter -
spite OF the sympathy tnat my friend
Perdcaris waeted On hIm. IS typical of
the race. 1 can hardly see that il rnsds
him a hero because ,hs Rasha. who ,vss
his accOmpiice ia crime. finally sold hin,
out. He had "a tough time OF IL no
doubt, with fourteen years of inprison-
ment. and he PROBABLY was the victim
OF some very refined forms or torture
but he was ana is as bad as the rest.
A Delightful Country.
Aside from this disorder. which VIII
be improved after while. Morocco is q