GERMANY'S TACTICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 294, 5 September 1908, Page 5

GERMANY'S TACTICS.

MOROCCAN THRONE. A FRANCO-SPANISH NOTE. HAFIDIST ENVOYS AND THE GERMAN FOREIGN OFFICE. (BY TEIEGKAPH—rEESS ASSOCIATION—COPTMGHT.) London, September 3. Tho feeling of irritation is growing, in Franco over tho visit to Fez of Dr. Va-ssel, of the German diplomatic staff, and the action of Germany in forcing the situation with regard to the recognition of Mulai Hafid. An interview between 51. Pichon (French Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Sir Francis Bertie (British Ambassador to Paris) was followed by a Franco-Spanish Note setting forth tho guarantees that wcro required from Mulai Hafid. The Note was sent to tho Powers yesterday. Though the rest of the Powers refused to receive Mulai's travelling Embassy, the German Foreign Offico privately received them. ACCEPTS KISMET. SULTAN ABDUL AZIZ KNOWS HIS CAUSE IS LOST.

(Rec. September 4, 11.12 p.m.) London, September 4. The latest advices from Tangier stato that the Hafidists (supporters of Mulai Hafid) aro overwhelming Atorgi's army. Tho Sultan Abdul Aziz acquiesces in his own fato, recognising that his cause is lost. LORD CROMER ON "A EUROPEAN CONFLICT." When tho Old Ago Pensions Bill was before tho House of Lords Lord Cromer made a remarkable speech on the possibility or even probability of a European conflict—a speech which at the time attracted great attention. Tho line he took was that the increasing expenditure involved by old ago pensions would be likely to impair the defence of tho Empire—an idea which Lord Crewe, on behalf of tho Government, repudiated. Lord Cromer opposed spending money on old ago pensions, and warned,tho Government of the paramount necessity that exists for making provision betimes for tho forthcoming European conflict in which Britain would not improbably be involved. Ho said: "What, I would ask, in the present condition of Europe, is tho main duty which devolves on the Government of this country? For my own part, I have no sort of hesitation in replying to this question. Their main duty is to make provision betimes for tho European conflict which may not improbably be forced on us before many years have olapsod. "I say it is tho duty of a Government gifted with both patriotism and foresight, who havso moans of information at their disposal which is not_ available to the general public, to provide betimes for that danger—a danger of which I, in common, I believe, with most people who can speak with roal authority on foreign affairs, am vory firmly convinced. Tho "Taeglichd Rundschau," reputed to bo tho "personal organ" of tho Kaiser, commented: "Tho nervousness of Lord Cromer and a few other gentlemen seoms to ltavo climbed a very pinnacle. After such a frank expression as his Lordship's ono or two questions are not out of place. Whero is the danger of war constantly referred to—in Germany or abroad? Who, therefore, is responsible for tho fact that the public opinion of Europo remains disturbed? And, finally, whoso conduct continually reveals that ho lucks a clcar conscience aikl grinds his teeth at evory opportunity?"

MULAI HAFID'S ENVOYS IN EUROPE. Mulai Hafid's envoys were in May received at the Foreign Office in Berlin by tho First Secretary of tho German Legation at Tangier, to whom thoy presented a letter from Mulai Haful, and represented that ho was the solo and rightful Snltan of Morocco. In reply thoy wers informed that tho German Foreign Secretary was not in a position to enter into official negotiations with them, since their master was not a "personage recognised by international law." It must bo left to the discretion of tho Imperial Government to decido whether their message could bo made tho occasion for communicating with Franco on the subject of their mission. The emissaries (wrote the Berlin correspondent of "Tho Times") fraterniso with Gorman reporters, whom, and, indeed, all Germans, tlioy describe as their "brothers." Tho envoys have revived the legend of a blood relationship between the Riffians and tho Germans throngh tho \ r andals, and one of them naively declared that, if. ho wore to don European garb, ho would look almost likri a German; Tho Hafidian envoys appear to be divided into threo sections tho one that is in Berlin, another which has been sent.to London, and a third, whose presence had hitherto escaped notice, in Paris. The chief member of tho last-named has stated to a representative of tlie "Matin" that Mulai Hafid is not the enemy of France. "Our master has a profound affection for Franco, and only asks ono thing—n&moly, to bo tho faithful friend of your country. . . When wo shall have signed a treaty of alliance with France wo will go to Madrid and wo will sign another With Spain." Neither the President of the French. Republic nor the Minister for Foreign Affairs, nor, indeed, anybody connected with the official world, will receive these Moroccan delegates.