Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.
Tangier, May 21, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to report that I have been to-day informed by the Spanish minister that he received a telegram from the Commandant of Melilla (Spanish colony near Ceuta, on the Mediterranean), with the following information: That on the 18th instant the small steamer Manolita, frying the American flag, with a Spanish captain and crew, proceeded from Tetuan to Penon with 15 passengers, all Moors; that, either owing to the weather or some accident to her machinery, she put into a beach on the Riff coast, called the Pescadores, for the purpose of landing her passengers and making repairs. Almost at once a large number of natives appeared on the beach, swam out to the Manolita, and boarded her; they seized a small boat which had been launched, and threatened to carry off all her passengers. After some altercation, however, they eventually departed, carrying away with them three of the native passengers and some of their effects. The Manolita thereupon, as soon as possible, resumed her journey, and on arriving at Penon reported the outrage to the Spanish authorities there.
The department will recall that in my No. 584, of May 16, 1904, I reported the purchase of a boat by Mr. Joseph R. Gazes, a naturalized American citizen, and the authorization granted to sail the said vessel under the American flag, all the required formalities having been observed. This boat was called the Manolita.
On April 4, 1905, Mr. Gazes sold the aforesaid vessel to one Isaac Pinto, a Spanish subject, and a short time after, on April 14, 1905, the said Pinto resold the boat to one Leon Osiel, of Tangier, a naturalized American citizen, who, having fulfilled the requirements of the consular regulations, was duly authorized to sail the vessel under the American flag; and it was this boat which, according to the telegram received by the Spanish minister, has suffered the outrage on the Riffian coast.
I have thanked the Spanish minister for his courtesy in giving me the information, but shall await further confirmation before addressing a strong remonstrance to the Moorish Government on the subject. I will report again to you as soon as I have more information. I might here add that the British minister informs me that he has just been informed of the capture of three sailors from a [Page 1158] British vessel on the same coast, which has always been considered a dangerous one, as the natives there are a lawless set, practically under no control from the Moorish Government.
I am, sir, etc.,