Morocco's Rebellion.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11998, 21 February 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

Morocco's Rebellion.

The man -who heads the present attempl :o overthrow the Government of the Sultar A Morocco is reported to say that he has not the slightest intention of seizing tin throne. His mission, he savs, is to wag< ;i holy war against Christians, keep Euro peans out of Morocco and remove the pre sent Sultan from the throne on account o his tendency to listen to European advici and yield to foreign influence. He says that lie and his followers will nominate a Sultan from some Shereefiian family who will promise to continue the war against the Christians. According to the correspondent of the London " Times " at Fez, the rebels are very strong in numbers. , The rebellion, is an expression of total dissent from and reprobation of the Sultan's recent scheme of reforms. Walter B. Harris, who had many interviews with Morocco's young ruler hist year, reported that he was wholly unlike 'other Oriental potentates in thoughts, habits and manner of life. " He is keenly sensitive 'to public opinion in Europe, is interested in educational systems abroad and in the workings of constitutional government, and is anxious to keep on good terms with the Powers," MiHarris said. The Sultan told Mr Harris that as soon as his Government was better organised he hoped to travel abroad and learn what he could for the benefit of his country. To i eform Morocco, to introduce modern and liberal ideas into its system of government, may require genius and strength beyond the powers of the young ruler. Tn .1884 Dr Osrnv T.Prv, ™.„( +!?» m „*f. ..„,,*„

observers of affairs in Morocco, wrote that though the father of the present Sultan had liberal tendencies and was a man of independent and energetic character, as well as an autocrat, he was not in a position to introduce revolutionary reforms against the will of the official class. The fanatical party was too strong both in the countiy and at court to be forced to submit to drastic measures of reform. When the late Sultan's son came to the throne in 1894 he was a mere boy of 14. ■During his minority Sid Ahmed, the Grand Vizier of Morocco, ruled the country with the iron hand of an absolute despot. He held the country together, quelled rebellions and subdued disorderly tribes with the utmost cruelty, and at the same time by wholesale confiscation and enormous exactions amassed a great fortune.

Two years ago the young Sultan reached the age of 20, and just as he assumed control the old Regent died. The report that the old man left his great fortune to the new Sultan is probably incorrect.

At any rate, it is known that the Sultan's finances have been in a bad way, and that since, he came into actual power he has raised considerable money by the sale of a part of his jewels. It is notbelieved that the Government has to-day the monetary resources necessary to equip a force and maintain it in the field for the suppression of a great and determined revolt.

_ There are Moors of progressive tenden- j cies, and they have hoped for great things ' from their Sultan. But it is very hard to change the old system. It has been the time-honoured practice for Government offi-'l cials, all of whom receive only nominal pay, to prey upon the officials below them till the local sheiks finally recoup themselves by preying.. upon the people. "Squeezing" is the"main business of the governing class, and these officials do not wish for any change. Added to this policy of corruption is the blind prejudice winch makes both the powerful and the lowly believe that all foreigners are hereditary foes, who cannot possibly wish them well, and who are most earnestly desired to leave the Morrocans to themselves. With such conditions as these firmly rooted in the country, the small body of progressive Moors will be most fortunate if the progressive Sultan is ever able to bring about a- tithe of the reforms which they are expecting at- his hands.