Morocco.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 22, 21 October 1907, Page 11

Morocco.

7* T- , DIPLOMATIC POSITION. GERMAN! WATCHFUL. The following continental telegrams sun up the progress of events in Morocco. Berlin, September 5. Forcngn Secretary Hcrr Tschircky, in con versatiou with representatives of the powors has stated that Germany accepted fully tin assurances that the operations of the alliec forces in Morocco'would be within the tcrmi of the Aigcciras convention. Ho cnsunllj added, in substance; that, of course, tin Algcciras convention did not contemplate France and Spain undertaking to suppress j civil war in Morocco. Tliis rcsorvatior shoiV3 that any military operations on the part of tho allies must either arouso controversy or he preceded by tho consent of the interested powers. The British Government seems to be waiting to-see what Germany', n-ill do) aiid Germany, the correspondent is informed, is determined to prevent the f Egyptian ization of Morocco." Horr .'l'scliirsky 'to-day received three leading: /.Ciennan merchants, of Casa Blanca, who filed, claims for compensation for the needless destruction by_ the French, as.they affirm, of Gorman property at Casa Blanca. Those merchants., expressed their opinion that action of the French was hasty and provocative and that probably no fighting would havo occurred had tho French Consul''been at Casa Blanca. • '■ , ' . . Paris, September 5. While there more fighting at Casa Blanca sinco the fierce engagement of Tuesday, tho seriousness.of. the general situation in Morocco and the possibility of its leading France into diplomatic difficulties with the other powers: of Eucopo,- notably Germany and Great Britain, to say nothing of the apparently growing! necessity of increasing the sizo of the French force on the -Moroccan, coast, is. occupying the .attention of the French.people. . : '~"■■ TEE CONVENTION;, The Press is calling attention to the difficulty of keeping within tho torms of the Algcciras convention, and the call to 'convoke Parliament to discuss and decide what course tho nation should pursue is becoming more-insistent. There is a growing feeling that tho importance of the decisions in the matter of Franco's policy in Morocco should not bo left.entirely to tho niembcrs of tho Cabinet. ..-■■ 'i "■■ ' „ The; seriousness of, the fighting! of] Tuesday in wliich Major Provost of tho Foreign Legion was filled, further details of which aro published. to-day, ha's brought home'to the Ijrench people'a comprehension of tho persistent resistance of the Moors, and a,realisation that France may ho only at tho threshold; of a protracted campaign that) may easily prove costly in lives and money. The •situation'is now- referrred. to as a "war," and no longer as an ' 'expedition of pacification." ■.'■■.'■ Nα other, power has'been drawn into tho difficulty, but Germany is watching.the progress of events, in Morocco more closely every day, and as it becomes apparent that tho situation there is not-improving it is intimated in-Berlin that tho Algceiras convention, ■ under the ■ terms of which France and Spain aro acting in Morocco, prescribe certain limits, and that Franco is'approaching the bounds beyond which shoishould not go without first obtaining tho special permission of tho powers.;-Tha-situation at' Mazagan is reported ■to be growing more.threatening and tho exodus of Europeans from Tangier continues. ■ Premier Clemenceau announced -to-day- there was reason to believe that neither: Abdul Aziz; tho: reigning Sultan* nor-Mulai Hafig, his bijjthor, who 1 has beori proclaimed Sultan in the south,-intended; to mako: war against: Franco;/ ■ ;, ■ ■ ■•• ■ :■' i ; <i' ' . ■. ' -,- \ Native- received at Tangier declare that 20,00G hostile Moors'' have concentrated riot far from Casa /Blanch,' and that 10,000 Kabyle tribesmen have- mobilised near Alcabaza. ';■ .'■■ ■. : ' ■ -. ■ -..;..■ ■■: - ' ■. . , Spain is- preparing to send reinforcements of'men and ships to Morocco. One Spanish battle-ship, the Emperor Carlos V, arrived at Tangier to-day.. •- '.■ ..-; ■'■•,'> \ FRENCH POLICY. " '■■'~ ,i '•'..,'., .' " ■ London, September 4. ' Inton;iewod by. tho Paris, .correspondent of tho. "Standard," a well-informed l<'renchnian, inclose touch with official affairs, stated:—, 'llie foundation of .our policy is the Act: of Algcciras.; It is at once our dogma and'W shield. Originally intended,'perhaps, to j. '" per us, it. has turned, out our trump card. By adhering steadfastly to its. provisions, wo are justified against tho arguments cf tho more tixcitwl coiu'niul party, who ta'lk of expedititions and occupations, and we aro cleansed (Vi'ii) any suspicion 'in Europe. It is, indeed, difficult to see how wo could escape from it. \V'o havo signed an international agreement and must honour our signature. ' . , . "By this agreement.ivo bound ourselves, in conjunction, with Spain, to presorvo order in the Mediterranean and Atlantic ports; Spain being responsible for Totuan and Laralcho by herself,'and.jointly with us for Casa.Blanca, and wo for Mazagan, Mogador, Rabat, and Salti., The situation, so far as that goes, seems to us perfectly plain.. If wo were to tail m our duty, any or all the Powers might call us to account, and begin sondiilg its own ships, resulting in a general international mixture, such as wo.saw- in China in Cretb. ' ;.. j '■..'.. . "It was precisely to prevont any necessity ror tins that we and the rest of Europe went it Algcciras. The Act, as it stands, is all that wo,want to regulatoour action. Wo havo not tile', slightest intention or wish to go beyond it, and the suggestion that it may roquiro to be modified does not proceed from us. In a country like Morocco, we never, know what may happen, and the move of Mulai Hafid is one.of those, surprises for v.'iiich we 'must bo prepare-]. . '.'.' ~. ~ . ; -...,, . "As regards Mulai Hafid, our information is to tho effect that at least nine-tenths of the population of Marrakesh have,refrained from declaring''for him, and very wisely.. As to tho cart-ridgos at Mazagan, wo are not likely, as long as we recogniso. Abd bl-Aziz, to let Mulai Ha.fid obtain,thorn, and if, in order to prevent him, ,we have to use force, wo shall be quite justifie'd in doing so. . This would, of course; lead to a landing at Mazagan, and :f wo land there, thoro is no reason why we should not land elsewhere. ;We are within our rights and,our mandate in doing so, and nobody will raise any objection. Naturally, if w«, look after tho ports committed to'our charge, Spain will-havo-to--do-tho same for hers. If she did not, the Powers woud request her to fulfil tho■:obligation she undertook. Both Spain and we have to establish police, and see that order is maintained. We have no answer from tho Moorish authorities as to how they propose to help us, and to/do their, part, hut :that .docs not release us from our obligations. . . ■ ,j "It is'iiot true that tho Powers have disapproved of our action, at Madrid. Spain has npt asked.for.the opinions of the Powers on the subject, and we ,aro strong in our position of executors of tho Act of Algeciras, with which nobody can quarrel. Of course tho operations will, probably cost a very considerable sum, wliich Morocco will havo eventually to pay to Spain.and ourselves. Wo aro not uneasy pu this.spore, as the Customs' aro amply sufficient to guarantee us against loss."