Washington sentinel., 1899-04-08
The Last Undivided Remnant of
Africa.

| S~~A pal NANlOAACGI ANaFGS OAAg Oh~
fraction OF Africa in the hands OF
an independent native power. We
refer, oil course, to Morocco, the
disposal OF which must soon figure
in the foreground Of diplomatic in
trigue and discussion. The hour
is now close at hand when, as Lord
Salisbury pointed out in 1891,
"some dav or other Morocco will
be as great a trouble to Europe,
and will carry with it as great a
menace to the peace of Europe as
the other Mohammedan countries
further to the East used to be
twenty or thirty years ago."
The Sultanate OF Morocco is.
from more than one point IF view,
the China of the Mediterranean
world. It exists as an independ-
ent entity solely through the
rivalry Of great Christian powers.
Its agricultural capabilities are inn
mense, and, were these turned to
account and a corresponding pur-
chasing power created. the coun-
try would offer large and stead
lily expanding market for Euro
pean and American manufactures.
1t is estimated by careful observ-
ers that, under a wise and orderly
system Of government, the Empire
of Morocco could produce grain
enough to supply the needs Of one
half of Europe, two crops a year
being easily garnered from the
fruitful soil. It is only during the
last four or FIVE hundred years that
the vast natural resources of Nor
occo have been neglected. About
the mineral wealth OF the empire
less is definitely known, but those
who have had some opportunities
Of forming an opinion believe not
only that gold is to be found there
in great quantities, but also that
there is an abundance Of iron, cop
per and lead, to which petroleum
should, probably, be added.
The strategic relation Of the
country to the Mediterranean has
long been recognized. If England,
already mistress OF Gibraltar, were
to acquire those ports Of Morocco
which adj Join the Straits Of Gibral.
tar, she would be able in time Of
war to transform the huge midland
sea into a British lake. Were
those ports, on the other hand, to
fall into the hands OF France, the
possession Of Gibraltar by England
would be more than counterbal-
anced. 1t is the irreconcilability
of the interests Of England on the
one hand and those OF France and
Russia on the other, that seems to
place the partition Of Morocco be-
yond the scope OF friendly negotia.
tions. Germany, not being
Mediterranean power, would prob
ably content herself with one or
more oil the ports of Morocco on
the Atlantic, and with the assur-
ance that her commerce might
penetrate the interior, Italy might
accept compensation in Tripolis
for the gains made by other pow
ers in the northwestern angle Of
Africa, but she would almost GER
tainly, cooperate with England to
prevent France from becoming
dominant on the southern shore
Of the Straits OF Gibraltar, and
thus, in the event of Franco-Ital-
ian war, shutting out her maritime
trade from the Atlantic. The
chances are that, should the divi-
sion Of Morocco be brought about
by violent rather than pacific
means, We should see France, Rus
sia, and Spain aTrayed upon the
one side, and England and Italy
upon the other, while Germany,
however desIrous Of playing a
neutral part, would insist upon
securing share in the partition of
territory.
France has been for some time
nibbling at the eastern frontier OF
Morocco and undermining the
Sultan's authority over his sub.
iects in that quarter. The prac-
tice OF issuing certificates OF pro-
tectlon to Moors who enter into
commercial relations with Euro
peans, either as partners or agents
has been carried so far by the
French that the populations o.
whole provinces, such as Wazzan
Ujda, Ell Mahaia, and Ell Amur
are at the present hour practically
under French jurisdiction. Frenct
emissaries are also a:tive among
the piratical inhabitants of The
mountainous coast district knowr
as the Riff, who have so Ions
given trouble to the Spaniards.
is but a few months ago that press