Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-22

OF his dramas exclaim: "A throne is too
narrow to seat two" There
Crowded are three sultans in the field
Throw. lone in PRISON. for the throne
of Morocco. Manifestly too
many.
The first is Mulay Abd-el-Aziz. the ac-
tual occupant. The second is Mulay Mo-
| manned. pretender. in prison. brother of
Abd-el-Aziz. The third Is Mulay Hafid. half
brother OF the sultan, the same who just
now has been proclaimed sultan at Mara
koch by some grand kaids and their clans
men.
But the power Of the three sultans Is d.
vided by two powerful temporal and spirit
ual individuals with whom Europe may
have to treat in the final settlement of the
Moroccan question, Raisuli and Ma-ei'
Ainin-Raisuli. who plays the part on oc-
casion Of bandit chief, and who wieids au-
thority among the mountain tribes: Ma-ei,
Amin who is marabout and magician ana
whose followers dressed in blue. blue
Men," have acquired influence over the
fanaticaI tribes of the Sahara, whence they
are recruited.
Mulay Haids title to the confidence of
Moroccans is somewhat overcast, pr1ncl-
pally because Of the fact that ne was born
of mulattress which will undoubtedly
count against him with those who Will
rally to an Arab OF pure Diood IN opposi-
ton to a half breed.
Mulay Hafid nevertheless is learned In
theology and the Mussuman law and is
considered the most lettered or All me
frequent him say of him, and this Is the
maximum Of praise that Hafid can DEFEND
any question from number or points OF
view, and always with such apparent JUS
tice that he Is able to convince all minds
In the most complicated questions.
When Mulay Abd-el-Aziz succeeded to the
throne in 1894 he caused his two brothers,
Sidi Mohammed and Muiay
Imprisoned Halifa, to be thrown into
prison. Halifa escaped. and
in 1902 when the Cheriflan
court was installed at Fee he was appointed
khalifa of the Hour, with residence at
Marakech His influence was combatted by
the governor Hadj Add -Salam- el-Ouar
zazi, who acted as a check upon his au-
thority. Halifa finally succeeded in at
taching to him the Glaoui and the Gounda-
fla, and 1t Is to these friends he owes his ele-
walton to the sultanate.
The attitude of Hafid toward Europeans
is said to be excellent. In the Lassallas
and Doutte affairs his action was most IA
vorable, whilst at Marakech In the affair
of the assassination of DR.. Mauchamp Hand
energeucaly denounced the governor Of the
city and by his energetic action protected
Europeans from a general assassination.
The correspondent Of the Morning Post at
Tangier Is nevertheless not enthusiastic
and says that having interviewed Mulay
Hafd he declared that he would maintain
amicable relations with all the powers and
observe the former treaties But In refer
ring to the treaty of Algeciras, Hafld said
What do l know of the Algeciras conven-
ton? We have not been consulted. and
you cannot regulate the fortune Of seven
million Mohammedans without taking into
r,,ejIo tyNv, thnfr anff Y,,nn rs off, md
religion"
Mulay Hafld opponent Of the treaty
at Algeciras will not be the sympathetic
choice of the sgnatory powers Besides
Of Morocco until he may have dethroned
his brother Abd-el-AziZ and after a pilgrim
age to the tomb OF Mulay Edriss, founder
Of Fee. he will have been recognized by the
ulemas Of that city. In the first place.
Hahd must conquer the forces Of 81 Aissa
ben Omar ell Abdi. governor Of the region
OF Safl, who Is the firm defender of the
rights Of Abd-el-Aziz- From Rabat should
he succeed in reaching that sacred city,
Mulay 7Hafld should go to Fee En- route he
will be opposed by the unconquered tribes.
who do not recognize the authority Of any
but their own chiefs. He must rally to
him also the turbulent and disconte nted
Benz Hassed. the Cheraga and Cherarda. 1t
is reported however, that the Glaoui
Gounda1a and Mtouggi have placed ample
means, money and munitions at the disposal
OF InelF ne" sultan. Ills Is not CSTldlH
but in any case the Moroccan question since
the 18th Of August has assumed an addi-
tional phase Of peril for the Sultan Abd-el-
Aziz.
X
A high Moroccan functionary, writing
from Marakeoh. mentions the proclama-
ton of August 16 thus:
Pretender's THAT the news which
pr,,,eu.+,,n 1 send thee, o friend.
assures to us peace and
happiness! Know that today after the
prayer l was called to the house of Mulay
Haid. I found assembled there the grand
glaoui and the grand kaids of other tribes,
ulemas, cherifas and notables of the city.
1t was announced that for the good of Is
lam and in view Of the actual circumstances
the overthrow Of Mulay Abd-el-Azz had
been decreed and 1t was decided to pro-
claim in his place Mulay Hafd.
They presented to us the biha or official
report, the proclamation of the new sultan.
l did the others. I signed It; then one
after the other and according to rank each
one Frustrated himself before Mulay Hafd
and congratulated him on his election to the
throne The cannon Numbered and public
criers announced the event 1t was received
with joy. The deputation of tribes arrived
from all sides to congratulate the new sui
tan. Order reigned in the city. Every one
attends to his affairs without feeling any
for Rabat with the escort prepared by the
tribes the first day of the next month of
Chaaban. May God will that 1t Is for our
good!'
At Fec Abd-el-Aziz has finally decided 70
act to march on Rabat. The sultan. 1t Is
said. formed this decision three months
ago. Had he acted then he might have an
ticipated. If not prevented the present sit
uation. for his brother. Mulay Haf1d, Is re-
ported as marching in the same direction.
The oriental Is a fatalist. He waits for
the finger OF fate to point the way. and the
finger Is seen only in the marching column
Of an adversary. too late perhaps. to reach
the coveted goal. Reconstruction Is the
eternal and everlasting sin Of the oriental
ruler Ismail. Khedive OF Egypt. failed to
oppose the threat of enforced abdication
until 1t was an accomplished fact. Abd-el-
Hamid. Sultan OF Turkey. failed to exercise
his suzerainty in Egypt until too late, and
when a British occupant had usurped his
rights. Many times Mohammed Thewfck
might have regained complete possession of
his throne had he appealed to the powers
Immediately after 1882. Mulay Abd-el-Aziz,
the Sultan of Morocco may lose his throne
by too great reliance upon the principle Of
representation which is contained in the
Arabic Kismet-Fate.