No. 329.
Mr. Cubisol to Mr. Hunter.
Consulate of the United States,
Tunis, May 12, 1876.
(Received June 8.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on
Friday, the 5th instant, a Mussulman, who had had a slight altercation
with an Israelite, killed the latter by cutting his throat with a sharp
instrument which he held in his hand.
The police appeared on the scene immediately, arrested and imprisoned the
culprit, who was tried by the Bey on Sunday, the 7th instant, condemned
to death, and executed immediately.
At the moment of the accident, however, the Jews, hearing of the murder,
came to the spot in crowds, took up the body and carried it through the
city, uttering cries of revenge; they were from five to six thousand in
number, and every time they came to a consulate they stopped, uttering
vociferous cries.
It is asserted that the principal promoters of this disturbance were
Israelites under the protection of foreign powers, although the Jew who
was killed was a Tunisian subject.
The fact of this disturbance, provoked in a manner by foreigners,
attracted the attention of the Bey’s government on account of the
dangers with which it might be attended in the midst of a population
almost exclusively Mussulman, and in order to prevent a recurrence of
acts of this kind, his excellency, the Bey’s prime minister and minister
of foreign affairs, has just addressed to the consular corps the
circular of which I inclose a copy, that you may be informed as to the
facts, which in such cases are often garbled by the press.
I avail myself of this occasion, sir, to inform you also that the
Tunisian government has just given the concession for a railway from
Tunis to Beja to a French company; this railway will extend about 150
kilometers westward in the regency, for it will extend to the mine of
Dgeb-bat, (a mine of argentiferous lead,) the concession of which, it is
said, has also been given to the same company.
I have, &c.,
J. CUBISOL,
Vice Consul, in
charge.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Consul: On Friday last a murder was
committed in one of the bazaars of Tunis by a Mussulman, the victim
being an Israelite. A few moments after, the culprit was arrested
and delivered up to justice.
Notwithstanding the promptness and energy of the measures taken to
satisfy the law, a large number of Israelites, both Tunisian
subjects and those under the protection of foreign governments,
created a disturbance which was as annoying to the government of His
Highness as it was dangerous to the public safety.
They immediately closed their shops in the bazaars and carried the
body of the murdered man through the city with cries of revenge,
stopping before several consulates, although the deceased was a
Tunisian subject.
Thanks to the firmness and moderation of the local police this appeal
to religious passions was not productive of the fatal consequences
that might have been expected, the entire responsibility for which
would have fallen upon the originators of the disturbance.
There is, however, in these acts a gravity which cannot escape your
observation, and which renders it my duty to call your most serious
attention to the dangers with which their renewal might be
attended.
[Page 605]
The government of His Highness, which takes every care to maintain
order and to guarantee public safety in the country, and to do
justice to all its subjects, without distinction, cannot recognize
their right, still less the right of foreigners, to create scenes
which disturb public tranquillity, and which are entirely without
excuse. It is, therefore, firmly resolved not to tolerate ‘them, and
to disperse by force, if need be, disorderly assemblages which may
be formed in future under similar circumstances.
I desire, therefore, Mr. Consul, to ask your co-operation to aid the
government of His Highness to prevent a recurrence of these scenes,
which are so much to be regretted, by giving the Israelites under
your protection to understand that they have no right to interfere
in cases of this nature.
The Tunisian government alone has the right to try and punish its
subjects for crimes committed by them. As to preventing them, that
would be asking more of it than of any other government.
Written on the 15th of Rabia Teni, 1293, (9th of May, 1876.)
The prime minister and minister of foreign affairs,
