Mr. Choate to Mr. Hay.
London, May 27, 1904.
(Mr. Choate states that he is informed by the British foreign office that the British minister at Tangier reports on the request of the American consul-general at Tangier the conditions for the release of Perdicaris and Varley insisted upon by the brigand as follows:
- I.
- The release of a large number of Moorish prisoners.
- II.
- The dismissal of the governor of Tangier.
- III.
- The recall to Fez of the Government troops which had been sent out to keep order.
- IV.
- The payment of a ransom of £11,000, this amount to be obtained by the sale of the properties of the governors of Tangier and Fez. Money obtained from any other source will be refused by Raisuli.
- V.
- Two small districts to be ceded absolutely to Raisuli by the Sultan.
- VI.
- Demand for the arrest and imprisonment of two Sheikhs and the two sons of one of them.
- VII.
- Free ingress and egress to and from town markets for turbulent tribesmen, among whom Raisuli now is.
Raisuli would, in order to save time, accept our guaranty that the Sultan will fulfill the conditions imposed. He will probably add to the above conditions immunity for the past. In rejecting our counter proposals he declares that negotiations to reduce the conditions will be useless, as he has stated his minimum terms. Our proposal for free pardon upon immediate release of the captives and abandonment of above conditions remains unanswered, and we do not expect that it will be accepted.
Mr. Gummeré, the consul-general of the United States at Tangier, would appreciate the communication of the above terms to his Government, as he has no safe means of sending them.)