MOROCCO.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 119, 12 February 1908, Page 7

MOROCCO.

GERMANY'S WATCHFUL ATTITUDE.

HINT TO FRANCE. BY TELEGRAPH—FREBS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT, Berlin, February 10. An official communiquo to the German Press warns France that it would be a mistake to creato in the minds of the Jlaghzen tho belief that Germany' has entirely renounced hor Moorish interests. ' ' FRENCH PROPOSALS One of tho French proposals which Germany has received. with considerable dubiety is the establishment in the Moroccan ports of a provisiqnal, police force, to be composed of French aJid Spanish troops. Says "Tho Times " "Tho reasons in favour of such a measure, are clear and strong. A regular police of some kind is absolutely, necessary in these ports to protect tlio lives and properties, of ' Europeans. The Act of ■ Algeciras recognises this manifest . truth, and empowers France and Spain to organise a polico force, to bo enrolled from tho subjects of the Sultan. But in the present state of the Sultan's dominions it is plain that his subjects would not serve as policemen, arid; that, did they undertake • such a function,- the dangers to European life and. property would bo greatly inoreased, instead of Doing lessqncd. In this state of tilings the natural course is for the.two Powers whom Europe has entrusted .with the duty of creating. a permanent .Moorish police to supply a temporary and provisional police recruited from, their own subjects—and necessarily, in (the circumstances,,from their soldiers. "Our Paris correspondent speaks of a further concession which it is' believed that' Abdul Aziz has already made. A joint circu-lar,-it is believed, will be issued shortly by the French and Spanish Governments informing the signatories: of the Act of' Algeciras that the Sultan tins authorised France and Spain lo police tho Moroccan coast and waters with a view t6 the prevention of tho trade in contraband 6f war."Tho Sultan has no ships fit to check this trade himself, which, with three different revolts in progress,' he naturally desires to arrest. His officers are to he on board the polico ships, which will, refrain from visiting .the. vessels .of recognised navigation companies. Tho. concession is limited to a year, after wliicli' period it will be renewable only; after the, opinion of the Powers has been taken. It is so clearly to the interest of all-civilised States to prevent tho importn-' tion •of arms into: n country where they may at any moment be turned against tho European residents, that we-hope this step will receive general approval. . . . So soon as present danger has passed away, France and Spain will doubtless proceed to 'substitute for the French and Spanish military polico tho Moorish foi'co prescribed by the Act of Algeciras." The hostilities iii Morocco have caused tho French sphere of,. operations to gradually widen. It is understood that Germany made certain reservations to tho! French proposals, but these reservations' have'.not been specifically stated.