THE MOORIBH USURPER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13748, 10 September 1908, Page 3

THE MOORIBH USURPER.

A PERSONAL INTERVIEW.

'HANDSOMEST OF MEN."

The new Sultan of Morocco is described by Mr Ashmead Bartlett, the special correspondent of the Morning Post as the "handsomest of men" hei has ever seen. Mr Bartlett travelled to Fez some months ago disguised as a native of the country, and managed to obtain a very interesting interview with Mulai Hafid, who appeared to he much distressed at the fa Ist reports that were being circulated about him in the European Press. "Listen," he said to Mr Bartlett, "what a man like Kaid Maclean writes of me. He says that if lam acknowledged Sultan it will throw Morocco hack into anarchy and darkness, and that foreigners will be unable to live in the country or hold property here. He also says that I have destroyed all the evidences of European civilisation in Fez. Why, I have given special orders that property shall be protected and have put a guard on Maclean's own house." He weri£ on to declare that he was in no way hostile to foreigners, though he had, he admitted, to move carefully in view of the state of public opinion in Morocco. "I want them to come and live in my country," he said. "I want to open up the country, to develop its trade, and to reorganise its finances, and I know that I can only do this with the assistance of foreigners. lam especially fond of the English, who have always been good friends of my country. Jam most anxious to do nothing to offend the French, with whom I desire to be on terms of friendship, and I ha^e been most careful ever since I was proclaimed at Morocco City to keep my followers from attacking their army in the Shawya." Mr Bartlett explained to the "Pretender," as he was then, that it was the fear of upseting the entente among the Powers established by the Algeciras agreement which* stood in the way of his recognition, but Mulai Hafid replied at once that he was ready to abide by tho agreement, though the mass of his subjects were violently opposed to it. He reserved to himself the right of calling another conference, and he hoped that tho need for sonu of Ihe clauses of the agreement would disappear when he was firmly seated on Mm throne; but he had no intention oi (touting the Powers. He was quite prepared to make provision for tin payment of Abdul Aziz's debts and foi ihe suitable maintenance of the depose* Sultan. All he asked for was the proper ifcogniticui of his authority ami reasonable liberty for his people ii managing their own affairs, and Ihesr concessions he now seems to have wo» by his success in the field.