modes for the transmission of the said note: First, to deliver the note itself to Mulai Hafid's representative at Tangier; second, to address a letter directly to Mulai Hafid himself in the sense of the note, and called a meeting of the diplomatic body for the next day to consider the two propositions, and in the meantime the interpreters of the several legations were called together to translate the note itself into Arabic. In response to the dean's call, a meeting of the diplomatic body was held at the Belgian Legation on the morning of the 18th instant to consider the manner of the presentation of the collective note to Mulai Hafid, when it was unanimously decided that the same should be done by means of a letter written by the dean directly to Mulai Hafid and transmitted to him through his representative at Tangier. It was also decided that the letter transmitting the note should be written in the following terms, viz:

A l'auguste, victorieux, éclairé, très, élevé Prince chérifien, Mulai Hafid, Proclamé Sultan par tous les peuples de l'Empire du Maroc. De la part des Puissances signataires de l'Acte Général d'Algeciras, Je soussigné, Envoyé Extraordinaire et Ministre Plenipotentiaire de S. M. le Roi des Belges, en qualité de Doyen du Corps Diplomatique, ai reçu la mission de transmettre, en réponse à la communication du 6 Septembre, la note dont voici le texte (suit le texte de la note collective).

The letter ends as follows:

que le Tout Puissant vous garde en honneur et an paix. Fait à Tanger, le 18 Novembre 1908.

(signed)

COMTE CONRAD DE BUISSERET, E. E. et M. P. de S. M. C. le Roi des Belges.__ I have the honor to report further that the said letter, together with the collective note, having been translated into Arabic by the interpreters of the several legations at Tangier, the same was delivered by the dean to the representative of Mulai Hafid for transmission on the 19th instant.

I am, etc.,

File No. 2151/299–300.

S. R. GUMMERÉ.

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION,
Tangier, December 7, 1908.

SIR: I have the honor to confirm my telegram to the department of this date, reporting that a reply to the collective note of the powers presented to Mulai Hafid by the dean of the foreign representatives at Tangier, has been received, in which all the conditions of the said note have been accepted without reserve, with the exception of a slight reservation as to the verification of the debts owing by the Moorish Government to various persons.

I have the honor to report further that on the evening of the 5th instant, a letter from the dean was circulated among the diplomatic body, announcing that the reply of Mulai Hafid had been received, and requesting that interpreters of the various legations should meet at the Belgian Legation at 9 o'clock the next morning for the purpose of translating the same, and calling for a meeting of the diplomatic body at the said legation at 3 p. m., of the same day, for the purpose of considering the said reply of Mulai Hafid. At that hour, accordingly, the said meeting of the diplomatic body was held, and the

letter of Mulai Hafid, together with the official translation thereof, was submitted to them by the dean. As reported to the department in my telegram, in his said reply Mulai Hafid accepts all the terms of the collective note of the powers, without reservation, except a slight one as to the verification of certain debts. It was unanimously decided by the diplomatic representatives that the said reservation was unimportant and that the official translation of Mulai Hafid's reply should be at once submitted to their respective Governments for their consideration and action thereon. I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the said official translation for the department's consideration. The action of the various Governments in the matter will be reported to the department, and, as directed by the department, I will confer with the dean as to the form and manner of the recognition of the new Sultan, by the United States, in case the same is agreed upon by the powers, reporting to the department by cable as to details. S. R. GUMMERÉ.

I am, etc.,

[Translation.]

(Great seal of Mulai Abd el Hafid.)

Peace be to God alone. There is no might or strength but in God, the very High and Great.

To the intelligent and wise friend who is seeking the good of the two friendly and powerful Governments, the minister of the respected Government of Belgium, dean of the honorable diplomatic corps at Tangier (the well guarded), Count Conrad de Buisseret.

After offering to God who brings success to all plans the full praise that is due him, we have received the letter by which you make known the intentions of the friendly powers signatory to the act of the conference of Algeciras as regards their hope that our Majesty, installed by God, will signify to them our acceptance of the points set forth in the said letter transmitted by you in behalf of all the said powers.

We have perused the contents of the letter and taken good note of all its Indications expressed and implied. We have carefully examined the points therein stated and have accepted them out of respect for the agreement reached in that respect by the friendly powers. As to the question of debts, it is important to draw the attention of the powers to the necessity of verifying those debts and ascertaining their foundation. International law does hold this Empire responsible for those debts, but it is equally true that the customs, laws, and statutes of this Empire demand that the responsibility for those debts shall fall upon persons who had divided the money and used it in their commercial undertakings. This is as clear as the sun shining over the earth and needs no demonstration.

Consequently we are in duty bound to accept the responsibility for the abovementioned debts just as it is our duty to proceed against those from whom they must be reclaimed.

We hope the friendly powers will in no wise intervene in their behalf, whatever may be the decisions reached by us. Investigation of this matter shall be carried on with the same equity as is expected of us in regard to their rights, for justice must take its course. And so, after examination of the proof relative to the debts due to individuals, after consideration of the circumstances under which they were assumed, after ascertaining their origin, cause and application in accordance with the principles established in such cases, the Maghzen stands ready to discharge, with the help of God, all such debts as shall be found to be valid under the law.

As for the military expenses of the two friendly powers. France and Spain, when they make the amount known to us, all will go well, God willing.

We are fully confident that all the friendly powers that have agreed upon sending that note to our Majesty, after adopting the points therein set forth,

will respect the provisions relative to our private and general interests which the said powers have agreed to recognize by the act of the conference.

Our sole object is to maintain public order and to place business on a sound footing by averting in every equitable way all possible causes of disturbance. May you all remain in peace.

Done the 4th Sacred Kode, 1326 (November 29, 1908).

File No. 2151/290.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Gummeré.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 11, 1908.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your unnumbered dispatch of the 20th ultimo, reporting that, on the preceding day, the collective note of the diplomatic corps was presented to the representative at Tangier of the Sultan, Mulai Hafid.

Awaiting Mulai's reply, of which the department has been advised by telegraph.

I am, etc.,

File No. 2151/293.

ALVEY A. ADEE.

The Secretary of State to Minister Gummeré.

[Telegram.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 17, 1908.

The Spanish minister shows me text of note recognizing Mulai Hafid as Sultan, which note it is proposed to have delivered to-day by the dean of the diplomatic corps. The terms of the proposed note are found satisfactory. You will inform the dean that the United States, for its part, accepts the assurances given by Mulai Hafid and acquiesces in the concurrent notification of recognition.

File No. 2151/293.

Memorandum from the Spanish Legation.

[Translation.]

ROOT.

LEGATION OF SPAIN, Washington, December 17, 1908.

The Governments signatory to the act of Algeciras have received the letter of the 4th of Ramadan, 1326, which Mulai Hafid sent them through the dean of the diplomatic corps at Tangier in reply to their communication of November 18. The Governments of the countries represented in Morocco have received that reply with satisfaction. They have found in it evidence that the conditions they had formulated in their note of November 18 in the interest of the relations of friendship and confidence they wish to maintain with the sovereign authority of the Shereefian Empire meet Mulai Hafid's sentiments exactly. In consequence the powers signatory to the act of Algeciras have decided to recognize Mulai Hafid as the lawful Sultan of Mo

rocco and have charged the dean of the diplomatic corps at Tangier to notify this recognition to the representative of His Majesty the Sultan in the said city.

File No. 2151/293.

The Secretary of State to the Spanish Minister.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 19, 1908. MY DEAR MR. MINISTER: I beg to advise you, in confirmation of the assurance orally given you on the 17th instant, that, in view of the statements made in your memorandum of the same date, which you left at the department, telegraphic instructions were sent on the 17th instant to the American minister at Tangier directing him to inform th dean of the diplomatic corps that the Government of the United States accepted the assurances given by Mulai Hafid and acquiesced in the concurrent notification of his recognition as Sultan. I am, my dear Mr. Minister, very sincerely yours,

File No. 2151/310.

No. 407.]

ELIHU ROOT.

Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.

AMERICAN LEGATION, Tangier, December 30, 1908.

SIR: I have the honor to report that on the 29th instant the dean of the diplomatic corps circulated among the corps identical letters received by him from the French chargé d'affaires and the Spanish minister, informing him of the text of the Franco-Spanish note which had been proposed to the powers signatory to the act of Algeciras as a response to Mulai Hafid's reply to the original note of the powers; and that, as all of the powers had approved of the same, they were charged to request him to communicate the same to the representative of Mulai Hafid at Tangier as soon as the adhesion to the said note of the powers signatory to the act of Algeciras have been announced to him by their respective representatives at Tangier. The dean further stated that as soon as he has received the said announcement from all of the representatives he would convoke a meeting of the interpreters of the various legations for the purpose of translating the note into Arabic before delivery to the representative of Mulai Hafid.

I have the honor to report, further, that up to the present date the representatives of the United States, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Holland, Russia, Great Britain, and Portugal have informed the dean of the adhesion of their respective Governments to the Franco-SpanFurther action in the matter will be immediately reported S. R. GUMMERÉ.

to the department. I am, etc.,

NETHERLANDS.

COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE NETHERLANDS UNDER SECTION 3, TARIFF ACT, JULY 24, 1897.

Signed at Washington, May 16, 1907. Ratified by the Netherlands, July 11, 1908. Proclaimed, August 12, 1908.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas the Government of the Netherlands has entered into a Commercial Agreement with the United States in conformity with the provisions of the third section of the Tariff Act of the United States approved July 24, 1897, by which Agreement in the judgment of the President reciprocal and equivalent concessions are secured in favor of the products of the United States;

Therefore, be it known that I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, acting under the authority conferred by said Act of Congress, do hereby suspend during the continuance in force of said Agreement the imposition and collection of the duties imposed by the first Section of said Act upon the articles hereinafter specified, being the products of the industry of the Netherlands; and do declare in place thereof the rates of duty provided in the third Section of said Act to be in force and effect from and after the date of this, my Proclamation, as follows:

Brandies, or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials, one dollar and seventy-five cents per proof gallon. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eight, [SEAL.] and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirty-third.

By the President:

ALVEY A. ADEE,

Acting Secretary of State.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

The President of the United States and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, mutually desiring by means of a Commercial Agreement to facilitate the commercial intercourse between the two countries, have appointed for that purpose their respective plenipotentiaries, namely:

The President of the United States of America, Elihu Root, Secretary of State of the United States; and