New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-23
A SECRET KEY TO MOROCCO.
CAN FRANCE ENTER WHERE SHE FORBADE
SPAIN TO TREAD?

SPAIN TO TREAD?
The death of the Shereef Of wazzan recalls TO
my recollection u piece OF diplomacy, known to
but few, which is not without some bearing
upon the present mission Of the Count dAubigny
10 the Sultan Of Morocco. Some twelve years
AGO, when I was at Madrid, q very stately and
handsome Moorish gentleman made his appearance
in the Spanish capital, and AZ he was provided
with letters of introduction 10 several OF the
leading people and was moreover, proficient In the
use of the Spanish az we'll as Of the Fr@lch Ian
Iuagc, besides possessing the most courtly ana
perfect manners, he soon became extremely pop
ullr in Madrid society. lie made the acluaih-
tancc not only Of General MARTINEZ CompoS.
who was Prime Minister nj the time. but also
Of King Alfonao himself ard was TO be seen
everywhere az Court entertainments o.
nrial receptions and in the principal salons OF
Madrid. The French Ambassadors attention was
at length attracted 10 the high favor which the
Moorish gentleman seemed 10 enjoy At the Pa!acc
and in Government circles, and on lcarming tnn'
the Spanish Foreign Office was about TO dispatch
speciel mission TO tho Sultan Of Morocco, az
rcz. lie began to make inNes'i@a"ohS
into the matter before long his III
quires were rewarded by tho discovery
tina. the Moor in question was n confidential ems
s1r' from III" Nlrl''l " Nh||'' "'' ''''' ''
,c,t OF his presncc In Madrid was in correction
with "A scheme whereby he hoped 20 obtain tn ~
4stance Of tho Sp inish Government in overthrow
inx the sultan. Mulcy IIassan, and In establish
mo the Shcrecf instead on thu throne of Morocco.
|, WIS ARRANGED and plprncd that the Spanish
mission should be attacked and captured py
msrauders in tho pay Of the Sh'rrei
while on its way from Inngiers 10 fr7'
and should bc led of prisoners into 'Ne
mountnirs The Madrid Government was therc-
mon 20 exact from the Sultan the immediaf" re-
leasc OF It's cnvoys. and ~ Mrlry linssnn
would have been unable - comply with th' ~
mands. owing 10 his having no control over tlc!r
captors or KNOWLEDGE Of the place Whcr" q"
prisoners were detained. the Spanish t'ct WIS 10
he or,!c7rl 20 Taugcrs ana Spanish troops VIZ W
~, l,rded for fhc sake Of securing rcPrahoh.
rLe shcreef of Wnzyan was thcrcupon to avail
himself Of the presence Of Spanish troops on MOOT
ish soil 20 rouec tic entire country against the
Sultan. and 10 deprive him Of his throne ''N'n9
possc Isl n thereof hns'lf The Inducements heih
ont ~ the Shcr,cl Ia spain were OF very COM
prehensivc nature and there IL no doubt That h'd
,he project succeeded Span would have acquired
q prrdominanc, in Morocco
Az soon ~ the French Ambassador M Mauf'u
became awar Of the true object OF the opa"'s"
mission which was about 10 start Tor fe1' II"
c,Il,1 nm n General Martinez Campos. the Prime
Mninter and Informed him OF what h' n''
learned expleinlng at the same time that his
Government woud reserve 10 ite'lt the r's"' ..
nro,cc,ing i,s interests in the matter. This yelled
threat provcl sufficient The General officially
informed the French Ambassador that he was
lahornU 1ndcr nsarpr'henslon ana, On ~"
othcr hand. notified ne envoy Of The Sh'rcrf
% Wnzran tina, the Spanish Government wonli
~. unable 20 take advantage OF III" offers he had
bcen n, Il enough 10 make ~ the same tImp
the SAcrcef of Wnzxan wac officially informed that
the rcnne-, which hc had made 10 III" Spanish
ConsulG encral M Tangicrs for registration "a
Su,ni-h pro.cge could not be- granted.
Thu NJ. ri-h gentleman ahov" referred 10 shortly
pt,.r ,li, di-,pvcarcd from Madrid and nothing
mr.. wns heard Of IL" projected mission - t"z
Subsequently, the Shcrrci made similar advances
IN the French Government. The latter received
them m no uniriendly spirit. For II NOT only
accorded 70 the Sherccf the registration 10y lt'
Consulate 81 TAnglcrs as prot"g" OF France but
also invited him 10 pay visit q Algi"rS. where
h. wa received with an inmcns" amount 81
pnmp, ceremony and cordially. II" has recently
died But his eldest son, and successor ~ Shcr'rf
o. Supreme Pontin OF the Mahom"nn religion +,
~ pronounced in his FrcncA pr clyties n was
hi. father, and equally ambitious
IN view of all these facts the pc-cnt mission
OF the Frcroh Minister Plcnipotrntinry, Count
d'Aubcny, 10 Fee Is Of peculiar importance and
interest and the fears which now hing cN-
pressed M Paris, especially IN Government circles,
for the safety OF the envoy and his m~ion. owing to
the disturbed state of the country and the dagger
of the mission being captured and held by IN
surg.rt bands. are extremely significant Franco
rs is well known has long had an eye on Morocco.
and could not logically permit th' establishment
Of any other European power on the western Dor
der4 Of lts great Algerian dependency.
IL is within the bounds of possibilities there
FORE that Franc" may now he on
the eve OF carrying ont ON It's own
account the prkjcct which It's Ambassador
M Madrid prevented Spain from putting INTO
execution twelve years ago. Indeed. | for ore
shall be extremely surprised If Count dAnDlgny :
mission 70 Fcz docs not result in some Incident
calculated TO bring about the dispatch OF the
French fleet to Tangicrs, in the overthrow OF In"
Sultan and in the establishment of the new
Shereef of Wnzaan on the throne of Morocco under
the nrotec,orntc of France EN-ATTACIiE.
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GEORGE MEREDrTTS SON
andy