FEZ, STORM CENTRE OF TURBULENT MOROCCO.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 134, 7 June 1911, Page 8

FEZ, STORM CENTRE OF TURBULENT MOROCCO.

Morocco is in the storm-centre of Northern Africa. It is the last of the great Mohammedan powers left in existence, and for years past it has been the cause of infinite trouble to the European States which have interests in the Mediterranean, and more than once the position of affairs in the country has brought a European war within measurable distance. The root trouble in Morocco has always been hatred of the foreigner, and especially the hated "Nazarene." For the people of Morocco are probably the most fanatical race the world. Their one desire in the past hag been to keep their country free from contamination by the infidel and l all his ways. But Morocco is only 15 miles from Gibraltar. It lies in the corner of two great highways of commerce, which divide, one going south down the West African coast, and the other eastward, down the Mediterranean. And so the hated infidel has become more and more difficult to keep at bay as the years roll on, and the facilities for trade and the need for new markets increase. Mulai Hand has been the upholder of the old ways and the old methods of dealing with the foreigner. It was that policy which enabled him to turn out Abdul Aziz three years ago. Under his sway exclusiveness has increased. No European may venture away from the towns unless he is accompanied by a strong escort. The Moroccan merchant will take the money from a " Christian dog," but while ho does so you may hear him curse under his breath the infidel who has come to contaminate his land. It is with such a people as this that France has to deal at the present juncture. The people are in revolt against Mulai Hafid, but in carrying out that revolt they will not be deterred from attacking Europeans should they consider it at all safe, for to them they attribute all their misfortunes, in that Allah is offended at the contaminations which, have already been brought about by their hated presence.—"Lloyd's Weekly News."