The sun., 1907-08-15


coast towns from assaults Of the wild
tribcsmen, and these garrisons may be
expected also TO require for some time
to come the cooperation OF warships.
How 10 France to be reimbursed for
the largo expenditure which thus will be
imposed on her? Are the signatory
Powers TO contribute each its share TO
the recoupment OF their mandatories, or
shall an adequate indemnity be exacted
OF Morocco and pending payment an
extensive tract OF the Sultan's territory
be occupied by way of guarantee? What
II such occupation, nominally temporary,
should, a. In the case OF Egypt, be pro-
longed for an indefinite period2 Would
Emperor WILLIAM acquiesce in such an
evasion Of a capital declaration OF the
Algeciras convention, on the ground
that unexpected circumstances have
rendered 1t inevitable?
Can any limit, however, now be set
to the outlay which France may be
forced to undergo in the process OF
restoring order, or to the subsequent
sequestration OF territory to be held by
way Of security Il is quite conceivable
that the sums which France may be called
upon to disburse may reach proportions
utterly inccmmensurate with the finan-
ciai resources Of the present Moroccan
regime. A foreign loan might be sug-
gested for the purpose, but it would
prove difficult, IL not impossible, for
Sultan ABDUL AZIz to provide interest
and a sinking fund on even a hundred
million dollars. There is reason to
think that IL operations are extended,
a. they must be il the rebellious tribes
men are to be punished and the interior
Of tho country is TO be tranquillized, tho
sum just named will prove glaringly
insufficient.
Tho French General commanding at
Casablanca has asked for reenforcements
to the number Of Is, 900, his present force
OF 5000 or 1000 men being too weak even
to attempt forward movement for the
purpose Of dislodging the Moorish horse
men from the heights near the town,
vantage ground which il the rebels pos
sessed artillery would render the French
position untenable. II such considerable
reenforcements are requisite even for a
short advance beyond the range Of the
gums OF warships. how strong must be
the expeditionary columns which if any
lasting effect is TO be produced upon
the Moorish mind must be despatched
against the Moorish capitals, Fez and
Morocco. May IL not also turn out to be
necessary to retain possession of those
cities for considerable period? Should
this prove to be the case there is no visi-
BILE end to the bill which France might
run up against the Moroccan ruler and
which could be iquidated only by terri
torial dismemberment.
Such are the Immediately urgent ques-
tions which are likely to have engaged
the attention Of the royal conferees
at Wilhelmsh6he. ALI that France is
waiting for is an intimation from the
German sovereign to go ahead. That
King EDWARD VII. will have tried to
procure It We may take for granted. The
proof OF his success will be an imme-
diste offensive movement on the part
of the French against the tribesmen.
That the conference, however, OF the
German and British sovereigns, who have
been 30 long politically If not personally
estranged, was occupied exclusively
with Moroccan affairs is scarcely cred
ible. Emperor WILLIAM will naturally
have wished to receive from his uncle's
lips the same reassuranoes which he got
from the Czar with regard to the bearing
OF the Russo-British agreement concern
ing Persia and port in Persian waters
on Germany's prospective interests in
the Euphrates Valley. II such reassur-
ances arc forthcoming the peace Of the
world seems likely to be unbroken for
some years to come, the only factor Of
possible disturbance being an outbreak
OF japanese ambition in the Far East,
or the persistence Of holy war among
the Moslems in northwest Africa.