MOROCCAN QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13147, 9 April 1906, Page 5

MOROCCAN QUESTION.

j RESTRICTIONS ON FRENCH INFLUENCE. TERRITORIAL COMPENSATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received Av !! 7. 4.53 p.m.) London, April 7. It is anticipated in political circles that Britain will afford France some territorial compensation in West Africa, owing to the French having a less free hand in Morocco than Britain h;.is in Egypt. The AgentsGeneral are watching the position so as to prevent any lessening of Australian rights in the New Hebrides, though there is no sign of any concessions being granted there. SPEECH BY PRINCE BULOW. Berlin, April 6. The Chancellor (Prince Bulow), speaking in the Reichstag immediately before fainting, reiterated that Germany had no political interest or aspirations in Morocco, and did not desire to interfere with the historic claims of France and Spain, or to hit England, but was determined to protect her economic rights and to show that she could not be treated as a negligible quantity. Referring to the Moroccan question the •Saturday Review states: — Even if. France finally secures the acquiescence of Europe in her main contentions, she is only at the beginning of a most arduous business. Those Powers who understand trie situation would be the first to push a rival into it. The Sultanate of Morocco is a religious kingship, and any attempt to seize or openly to control the Sultan or to interfere with his freedom of action would bring together all the tribes against the intruder. As for Britain, up to the present time we have had the beau role. Our support has been admitted by France to have been gcnuiiu and persistent. Wo feel more doubtful as to its limits and whether they have not been nearly reached. But to recede at all before would have been ungracious, for our benefits from the agreement are palpable, while those derived from if by France are not yet. clear. The most Machiavellian of diplomats could not have made. » worse bargain for the other party than Lord Lansdowne did without meaning it.