Washington sentinel., 1898-02-26
ENGLAND.
THE RAID ON THE MOORISH COAST.
Spectator.

THE RAID ON THE MOORISH COAST.
Spectator.
1t is possible that the Moorish ques
tion-that Western question which
Prince Bismarck once said was in
reality more formidable than the East.
ern--is going to be raised in a very
diJagreeable form. A yacht belonging
to a body of traders who term them.
selves the Globe Venture Syndicate
true TO the old traditions of "rum and
cutlasses" which haunt the African
trade-have been attempting to land
! cargo alleged to consist OF arms on the
coast of the Sus country, part of the
Empire of Morocco. The effort to get
the cargo ashore and into the hands OF
the Sus natives, who are rebels en- per-
'HGHeHce, was opposed by a small un-
armed steamer which belonged to the
Sultan of Morocco, and the result was a
scrimmage. The Globe Syndlcate's
yacht turned her Maxim on the boats Of
the Sultan, but they were not able to
RASN~hN AAS NNNaANC VI AhN AhOOA98
and the capture of three Englishmen
and German officer in the service Of
the syndicate. We do not, Of
course, wish 10 say anything which will
prejudice a case that will probably come
before the courts, but as far as we can
see the action of the Globe Syndicate
was entirely without justification. They
were, II the facts are as stated, trying to
sell arms to the natives Of Sus contrary
to the wishes of the Moorish Govern
ment' We say, set the facts are as
stated" advisedly, for Of course it may
turn out that they were only engaged in
legitimate trade. But even if that be
the case, the syndicate officers hao no
right to insist on trading contr ary to the
wishes of the Moorish authorities.
Though the incident on the coast OF
the Sus country is a disagreeable one,
its chief importance lies first in the evi.
dence it affords that the Empire of Nor.
occo is at last entering upon the stage
OF dissolution; and secondly in the DOS.
sible International complications which
may ensue therefrom Let us deal first
with the chances Of internal dissolution.
When the present Emperor came to the
throne, it was freely prophesied by those
who knew Morocco that the breakup of
the country was likely to be imminent.
II the late Emperor, though strong and
able man, was only just able tohold his
own, what chance was there for his weak
and youthful successor No doubt these
torebodings have not yet come true, but
there is reason to believe that OF late
things have been steadily going from
bad to worse in the Moorish kingdom.
The last expedition of the Sultan bey ond
the western half of the Atlas was fail
ure, and now we hnu the Sus triDesmen
obviously eager to get arms. This prob
ably means that there is going 20 be a
general shaking of Of the SultaD's au-
thority in the Sus country. II the Sus
tribes succeed, they will certainly be
] initiated by the tribes in the Tafilet
country and in other outlying districts,
and this, again, will probably mean
instructions nearer home. OF course
luck may attend the Sultan and he may
pull through, but we must not forget that
his seat on the throne is extremely inse-
cure, and that very little would bring
the whole empire in ruin about his ears.
But If once Morocco gets into a condi-
ton of anarchy, the dreaded partition
must take place. Anarchy will give
France something more than an excuse
for moving on the Algiers frontier
while anarchy, as soon as it touches the
great trading centres like TangIer, ,Rabat
and Mogsd dor, will make 1t necessary for
us to act. And even if none of these
things happen, we can hardly hope that
| present conditions will much longer
remain unchanged.
Considering what the conditions are
in Morocco, and considering also the
longing eyes that are cast at Morocco
from all sides, would il not be better tor
our Government to take time by the
forelock and work out scheme Of par
tition before matters get acute? IF the
Sick Mans inheritance is divided up in
anticipation before he dies, there need
be no fighting at the funeral. Practically
the only Powers concerned with Morocco
are France and Spain, because of pro.
pinquitY; England partly because OF her
trade; and Germany, because OF her
trade interests. actual or potential. But
Spain can be eliminated as far as contro-
versial action is concerned. She is too
weak to insist on her voice being heard.
| AS regards the other three, il is safe to
say that if France and England agree as
to terms Germany can do nothing. She
could not go to war alone, and Austria
and Italy are certainly not going to
make war about Morocco. France, then,
and England could, if they would, settle
the matter, But we shall at once be
told that France is always sossuspicious
when approached in regard to such
matters that it is impossible to do bust
ness with her, France would simply
decline to consider any abstract propo
sails as regards the future Of Morocco
and would bow us to the door without
entertaining our scheme, Very likely
Tint, however, need not in the leas
prevent us from arriving at a plan o
eventual partition and imposing it or
France and the rest of the world, not By
the weight OF arms, but by the irrssisti
bic force welded by any plan which
shows the line OF least resistance, lie
our Government think out the plar
which is most likely to preserve tn,
peace oi the world without iDjuriuS
England. and quietly let it be knowr