The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-12
MOROCCO'S MIDDLE.
Queer Diplomatic Relations with
Other Nations.
a Rich Country That Would DO Gobbied
UP but for International JeaI-
Ousics-The Canada
OF Spain.

OF Spain.
The rulers of Europe, endeavor now
and then to impress his highness, Malay
Hassan, the sultan of Morocco, with a
proper sense of their amiable feelings,
says the New York Sun. Their hand
some presents are joyfully received by
the Moorish potentate, though it is be-
licved he has never rcciprocatcd in kind
except on one occasion. namely, when
he honored with some rare specimens
of Moroccan handiworl1 the ruler of
Spain, whose military forces had badly
trounced his highess' own army years
before. Some time ago he received from
his great friend, the king of the Bel
gians, about mile of narrow-gauge
railroad track with rolling stock COM
plete and of proportions adequate for
the accommodation of the sultan and n
few of his wives. Another great friend,
Queen Victoria, has now sent to the
sultan, as proof of her thoughtful re-
gard. au equally novel present, IN In
dian elephant, adorned with n gorgeous
howdah, and the only animal of his
species in Muley's wide domain.
Morocco is in some respects unique
among the nations. 1t is the only coun-
try having diplomatic and business re-
lations with most of the leading govern
ments whose representatives do not live
within weeks journey of the capital.
If white men are tolerated in the coast
towns they are not wanted in the in
terror. Our consul general and those
of the European states get no nearer to
the Moroccan court than Tangier, and
transact their affairs of state through
the sultan's minister, who is kept there
to act as intermediary; and as it is an
eight to twelve days journey through
the almost painless regions between
the coast and Fee, or Morocco, the
diplomatic relations between the sui
tan's palace and the outer world are
conducted with truly oriental dclibera-
ton.
Morocco is the only Mohammedan
country having diplomatic relations
with eight great governments in which
non-believer can enter mosque only
at the peril of his life. Europeans are
forbidden by law to enter any mosque
in the country, and even in Tangier,
where half the population are non
Mohammedan, it is dangerous and fool
hardy to make the attempt unless ac-
companicd by Mohammedan officials
Morocco opposes, also, far more strcnu-
ously than China tho growth of western
ideas or the development of western
trade. She is the Canada of Spain. for
Spanish criminals find n safe refuge in
her coast towns and all Spain's efforts
to secure an eXtradition treaty have
been in vain.
Rich as Morocco is in natural resour-
ces above all other north African coun-
tries, it is lucky for Mulcy IIassans
peace of mind that European rivalries
have had the result to keep all hands
Off. a great deal of nonsense has been
endured, actual affronts have been
winked ut by the European powers, be-
cause none of them is willing that an
other shall take any step in Morocco
that may give it an advantage.
England thinks she has precminent
claims upon the country because she
once possessed Tangicr, and also be-
cause she pulled the sultan out of his
financial slough when he knew not
where to turn for the money Spain de-
manded as n war indemnity after the
unpleasantness of 1860. Spain is firmly
convinced that her interests are para
mount because the country is her next
door neighbor, because she already pos
sesses Ceuta on Moroccan soil, and be-
cause not a few of her citizens have
emigrated thither. many of them, She
must admit, for their country's good.
France chcrishes the idea that Morocco
would appropriately round out her Mo-
hammedan possessions in north Africa,
and, If the prize were hers, that AL
gerin's frontiers would be secure, and
there would be no vcXatious boundary
questions Germany and Italy, while
having no presumption rights to advance,
are firmly persuaded that the status quo
must be preserved. So the powers real
~ agree i'll nothing, so far as Morocco
is concerned, except that none of them
will be permitted by the others to pick
any quarrel with Mulcy Hassan that
might result in war conquest; and
further, that all of them will exert
themselves to keep on the right side of
his highness. and will smile blandly on
most things Moroccan except the pirates
on the northern coast, who require n
little European cannonading now and
then to keep them in order. Morocco
and her European wooers present n
rather interesting spectacle.