4952 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/600 MOROCCO
MID#164
Dispute Number: 164
Date(s): May 20, 1904 to June 28, 1904
Participants: 2 United States of America, 200 United Kingdom/600 Morocco
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Ion Perdicaris was a Greek American, born in South Carolina, but was
no longer a US citizen. He was living in Tangier, Morocco, when he was kidnapped
by a horde of bandits, led by Mulai Ahmed er Raisuni in May 1904. Believing that
Perdicaris was still an American citizen, President Teddy Roosevelt quickly dis-
patched a fleet of warships to Tangier to stand guard. Both Roosevelt and the US
consul general—Samuel Gummere—did not believe that marines would be able to
seriously help retrieve Perdicaris; rather it was a signal to Morocco of the gravity of
the situation. This pleased Raisuni immensely, since his plan to coerce the Moroccan
government by kidnapping prominent foreigners was working.
Raisuni’s plan created a windfall when he learned that the Moroccan government
was getting pressure from the United States to secure the release of Perdicaris, even if
it meant relenting to Raisuni’s demands. Raisuni made an exorbitant demand in kind:
the removal of the Bashaw of Tangier (whom Raisuni personally despised for having
imprisoned him and harassing his people), the arrest of other government officials
who harmed him in the past, US$70,000 for the ransom (to be obtained by selling the
bashaw’s property), self-appointment to two important districts in Tangier, and other
assurances regarding the release of political prisoners and the security of his villagers.
Raisuni even released newspaper editorials pleading his case while this issue dragged
on for a few weeks.
The United States was informed that an agreement was reached on June 19 for a
June 21 release, but this was delayed. Frustrated, Roosevelt and Gummere advised
Morocco that it would be fined for every day that Perdicaris was not released and
Chapter 5
Middle East