Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-02
SULTAN NOT PROTECTED
He is in an Even Worse Position Than
Before.
NEW GENDARMERIE UNPOPULAR
Native Privates and ssNon-coms''
Commanded by Foreign Christian
Ofacers-Foreigners Apprehensive.
By WILL.IEM e. CURTIS
Special Correspondents Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

Special Correspondents Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
NEW YORK, June 1. 1906.
People who are familiar with affairs In
Morocco lament that, 80 far as internal
conditions are concerned. the recent con-
ference OF the powers at Algeciras was
a failure. They are willing to admit that
the peace Of Europe was preserved, and
that the amicable agreement, which was
reached largely through the conciiiatory ef-
forts of Mr.. Harry Whitey-our ambassador
to Italy. and Mr.. Gummere, our minister
to Tangier. probably prevented an armed
conflict in Europe, for Germany, France and
England were several times on the verge
Of war. Although the government of the
United States declined to assume any re-
sponsibility, and instructed its delegates
to maintain passive and silent attitude at
Algeciras. they exercised a powerful infiu-
ence, and were more than any other dele
gates responsible for the results. Those
suits, however. are not satisfactory to any
body, far the interests involved in
Morocco are concerned.
Those who are familiar with the situation
declare that 1t Is worse than ever. The
authority of the sultan has not been
the country Is still disturbed;
French conspiratOrs are still busy; the pre-
tender to the throne is still In the field. and
enlargement from French sources. There
are fears of violent outbreaks when the
new police are provided for by the Alge-
ciras agreement are installed; the prejudice
against foreigners among the people is in
creasing, and man was stoned at Tan
gier not long ago by mob simply because
he was a Frenchman. Similar demonstra-
tions occur frequently, and the manifesto
tons of ill-wil by the natives toward for
eigners are more and more violent.
Apprehension Among Foreigners.
Recent letters from Tangier report
anxiety and apprehension among foreign
ers of all nations They say that the
women and children of foreign families are
no longer safe from insult on the street,
and no foreigner vii venture into the in
terror unless he Is absolutely compelled to
go there and can protect himself by guards.
The sultan is well disposed although his
attitude has changed very much since the
conference, because he believes that the
powers betrayed him. He Is powerless. He
has not recovered his influence or author
ity. but is weaker than before the confer
ence was held, and no provision was made
there to strengthen or sustain i'm.
Thus the results of the conference are not
satisfactory to the sultan nor to the Moors
generally nor to the leaders of the rebel
lion against the sultan, and, least of all,
to the foreign residents of Morocco, who
find themselves without any protection.
the Moroccan trade think our government
should have supported Germany instead of
acting sort of all-around conciliator.
They say that the danger to which they
are exposed has not been removed, but has
been aggravated.
Recent History Reviewed.
In order that the situation may be bet
ter understood. 1t is well that recent his
tory be briefly revawed. The conference
at Algeciras was called by Sultan Mulat
Abdel Aziz, the hereditary ruler of Morocco.
undoubtedly at the suggestion of Germany,
in order to secure the protection of the
United States and the powers of Europe
against the pressure of France. The
French government, having control of AL
geciras, the neighboring country has for
long time been trying to obtain dom
inant influence in Morocco, and recently
compelled the sultan to accept a loan Of
$40 0O0.0D0 which he did not ask for and
did not want. The conditions of this loan
were exceedingly humiliating to him and
to his subjects because 1t was secured by
what is practically a mortgage upon the
sovereignty of Morocco, and compelled that
government to submit the management of
its finances to agents appointed by the
French government. The sultan accepted
the loan, but appealed to the powers. The
commercial interests of Germany, like those
of other countries. were exposed to injury
or destruction, and hence the kaiser took
an active part in the controversy.
Owing to his acceptance of the loan from
France and the introduction of European
Innovations at his court, the sultan lost
the confidence of his people They were
especially dissatisfied because under Brit
lsh advice he had introduced certain re-
forms that were urgently needed, but ex-
tremely unpopular. Public opinion was not
educated up to them, and they were par
tfcularly offensive to the Mohammeldn
clergy. who are likely to lose their infiu-
ence over the people.