THE CASABLANCA INCIDENT.

Mataura Ensign, 24 May 1909, Page 3

THE CASABLANCA INCIDENT.

SATISFACTORY SETTLEMEN T. Receive Miiv '24, 8.2 a.m. BERLIN, May 23. Th« Hague Conference has upheld the main points of the French position iu the Casablauca incident and strongly blamed the Secretary of the German Consulate for endeavoring to secure the embarkation of deserters not of Gorttnan nationality. The Consulate under the then prevailing circumstances was not entitled to protect deserters of German nationality. Nevertheless the French were blamed for not respecting as far as possible Germany's de facto protection of those deserters and for threats with revolvers, also with illtreatment of Moroccans attached to the Consulate. The 'North German Gazette' states that it now remains for both governments to express their mutual regret. Tho 'Gazette' adds: "A very unpleasant incident is closed by the award in a dignified manner, which is entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of international relations."

All ugly incident occurred at Casablanca. in Morocco. in September, where 200 soldiers destroyed tli« Foreign Legation. 11l a cable received at tluit time in was said that five men who trero recognised .'is deserters were brought ashore l>y Iho Secretary of the German Consulate and Morisli horsemen in the employ of the Consul. The Secretary was about to enter the Wont ill order to embark 011 the Hamburg steamer when the gendarmes arretted him. Then the horsemen interfered ami were arrested. Later the gendarmes liberated the official. German accounts stated that the French harbor captain )JOillted a revolver at the Secretary of the Legation and fiercely assaulted a liorsemau. The 'Cologne - Gazette' insisted on firm action, since the gendarmes' conduct was absolutely illegal The French press asserted that- several of the deserters were not Germans.