New-York tribune., 1902-12-30
DANGER IN MOROCCO.
II CRAZE .SITU4TION.
ReUoH Nay Lead to European Com
pkcations-Fear for Missionaries.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE-l ]

Washington Dec 29.-Dispatches from Con-
sui General Gummere. at Tangier, confirming
the reported defeat OF the forces of the Sultan
of Morocco and the consequent danger threat
ening Christians IN the interior of that country,
created certain amount Of apprehension at the
State Department to-day. Consul General Gum
reports that there are several American
missionaries at Fez and Mequinez. IN the in
terror, whose lives will be in danger If the city
OF Fez is taken Apart from the danger TO
American citizens. the transfer Of trouble from
the American Mediterranean to the European
will excite only OF relief at the State
Department, where the strain Of the last few
weeks is beginning to tell
OF the number and identity of the American
missionaries at Fez no record can be had here
1t is known that Kansas City society main
tains several missionaries at Fez. and it Is
conjectured that they the persons mentioned
in the dispatches this morning BY far the
greater number OF foreign residents Of Morocco
in fact, nine thousand of the ten thousand
foreigrers-live in the senicivilized city OF Tan
gier within reach of the protection of the guns
of warships. American consular agencies are
also maintained at Casa Blanca and Mogador.
both seaport cities
So far as American commerce is concerned
no serious results will follow an insurrection
in Morocco While certain American goods are
transshipped, as there is direct line from
this country TO Morocco. The aggregate value
however, IS srnaIl-smaller. in fact than the
imports from Morocco into this country, which
amounted to about $5000O0 In 1899, the last
year for which a statement issued.
What is particularly interesting both to the
State Department and TO the representatives of
the great powers in this city is the action likely
TO be taken in case number Of citizens Of these
in Eaz
England have extensive commercial interests in
Morocco and German trade is rapidly increas-
ing As a result they have number of citizens
whose lives will be imperilled If the rebels wage
a holy war which has for its object the de-
struction of all Christians The possibility OF
renetition of the expedition to Peking, with
Fez as the goal. has been suggested here to-day
France from Algeria, and Great Britain from
Gibraltar. are in a position to hurry troops into
Morocco and Spain already has garrlsons at
Ceuta and Melilla The real difficulty here. as
=, China according to the views expressed by
those familiar with the situation. lies in the
general distrust which exists as TO the lnteh-
tions of the various powers
Tho following explanation Of the situation IN
Morocco was given TO The Tribune to-day py
q person well versed in the question; Inc teill-
tory Of Morocco, the last strip OF unapproprlhl-
ed territory in Africa. is coveted by SPAIN WIZ
regards the African shoTeS acEoSS TIC i-SAAt AtN''
strait as he T rightfui heritage; by France whose
colories surround Morocco and whose railroads
already reach the frontiers. England desires
Tangier. to complete her hold on the entrance
to the Mediterranean, partially established at
Gibraltar Germany also, since she holds tillFu
Mace in the trade cf Morocco. has interests at
stake. All these conflicting claims coihplhe u
make most difficult situation, one whlch mas
nerrnitted the Moroccans to assume an arrogant
attitude Some weeks ago the rumor was cir
cu1ated that France and England had made an
apreement by which the former waived her
claims in Eevpt and the New -Hebrides, and
in return Great Britain acquiesced in the French
seizure of all Morocco except the coast fronting
Snain from Melilla to the Atlantic. This was,
according TO the rumor, which came from Paris,
to go TO Spain.
Meanwhile there is little real excitement over
the matter in official circles I'VE don't object
at all to the carrying of the war into AFRICA
WAS the laughing comment made here to-day
II was also recalled with satisfaction that to
the American navy, in the earliest days of its
history belongs the honor of teaching Europe
bow 10 deal with the barbary pirates and
the nirates themselves to respect the rights
Of American shipping and citizens There is a
certain poetic justice, which has not escaped
notice here in the fact that while Europe was
E ,-;1,, engaged in cleaning up a nuisance in
Americas front yard another and equally dan
o-o,,s one should have come to light in her
/ own.