KAID MACLEAN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 275, 13 August 1908, Page 3

KAID MACLEAN.

A WELL-EARNED HOLIDAY. THE MOROCCAN SITUATION. ' Kaid Sir Hnrry Maclean arrived in London in Juno on a month's leave. Ho has como to consult a physician, his hcaltlj hav-' ing suffered from his long confinement in the hands of Itaisuli. In the courso of an interview with a representative of "The OverSeas Daily Mail" he explained the situation in Morocco and foretold the fato of tho country if it eventually fell into the hands of the pretender Mulai Hafid, who is now reigning at Fez in the place of his brother Mulai Abdul Aziz.

"What do I think of Mulai Hafid's chances!" exclaimed tho Kaid. "If the French would only act with energy Mulai Hafid's position would quickly bccomo impossible. _ True, he has occupied three of tho capital cities, but two of them are'waiting tho first opportunity of rejecting him—Fez, where many of tho business houses have connections with London and Manchester;' Marrakesh, where tho people have felt his oppression and exactions; Mequinez, ono of tho sacred cities, whoso Moslems are notorious for fanaticism —is tho only placo oil which Mulai Hafid can depend. France and tho Rivals. _ "Mulai Abdul Aziz is in an awkward position. Ho has accepted the provisions of tho Algeciras. Convention, and has put himself entirely in the hands of Europe. Many of his subjects believe that ho has betrayed them to the Christians; others are either sitting on tho fence or have gono over to Mulai Hafid because they are afraid that tho Powers will refuso to uphold him on the throne, i How can tho French desert him ? I do not 'for a moment believe that they will. As' long as the coast towns are loyal to tho Sultan we need not fear Mulai Hafid; he has neither money nor arms." ""Would not tho French be justified in recognising Mulai Hafid's pretensions?" L asked. "Only one condition could bo pleaded in extenuation of such an'act of betrayal—that all tho coast towns accept Mulai Hafid without lifting a hand to save Abdul Aziz. But a peaceful revolution of that kind is impossible. You must remember that tho men who aro most bitter against Abdul Aziz are officials who have lost their principal source of revenue. They can no longer 'squeeze' the peoplo. Tho French find tho money, and very properly insist on seeing that it is spent on tho objects for which it is intended. You can touch a Moor through his pocket, and tho men who have been deprived of theso illicit and illegal gains have persuaded many of the peoplo who aro ignorant and fanatical that the Sultan has given everything to the French, and is acting in ' violation of the most sacred tenets of their religion." Morocco's Salvation. "You think "then that the salvation of Morocco depends on tho ' success of Abdul Aziz."

"Most sincerely and firmly do I believe it. . Mulai Hafid's success would put Morocco back to the Middle Ages. He can succeed only by rousing tho religious fanaticism of the Moors. Alxlul Aziz, as you know well, is neither a degenerate nor a fanatic. Had lie- been either ho would not now be dependent on Europe for support against his own people. His worst fault is his <easy good nature, and his only crime has been his desire to "introduce European methods and civilisation before the Moors were perpared for thcso changes. If Europe rejects him it will 'be a shamo and a reproach—and a danger."