Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-22
THREE RIVAL SULTANS OF MOROCCO

these points Professionally and with the as
| sent of the sultan. AS to the demand Of
| Muiay Hafid to abdicate. the Cadi 81 Mo-
| manned ell Haraiki. designated by the as
| sembly to speak. declared:
| 20 king, our only masteri have no care
| nor disauiet as to the stupid pertidy of your
| tribes in the south. They will return to
| you with those who carried them TO that
| fmpious way. for the law of God does not
permit another to call himself sultan. That
one can be no other than usurper. and
| every good Moroccan Mussulman only
| class him as roghur' (rebeD.
a document was then prepared affirming
the authority of Sultan Abd-el-Aziz. and
| having been signed was promulgated.
Since the last fight at Casa Blanca Ma-el-
| Amin and his Blue Mem have taken to
| the hills At least they have disappeared
| and their former occupation seems
| longer TO attract them. Melinite has mani
| testify curbed the ardor Of the men OF the
| Sahara.
The case OF France and Spain against
Morocco may be briefly rehearsed. Moroc-
| can fanatics recently assassinated num-
Der of Europeans at Casa Blanca. The
Cherifian authorities confessed themselves
| powerless to establish order and protect the
| lives and property OF Europeans, France
debarked troops to do what the Makhzen
was manfestly incapable of doing There
is intention on the part of France
Spain of marching upon Fee Marakech or
other Moroccan cities.
The latest cable dispatches announce that
as a result of the exceptional punishment
inflicted by the French fleet and troops at
Casa Blanca the various tribes have noti-
fed Gen. Drude that they have had enough
and desire to have peace. Gen. Drude has
accordingly ceased hostilites and offered
the tribesmen the following conditions:
l. Punishment of the authors of the
massacres at Casa Blanca. 2. No tribes
men to enter the city with arms 3. a war
indemnity to be fixed by negotiation. 4.
The surrender Of hostages to fulfill these
conditions. 3 The surrender of Kaid Ouad
AarlZ, the chief inSttgatOr of troubles at
Casa Blanca.
It is reported at Casa Blanca that Mulay
| Hafid has already informed Gen. Drude
that he was ready to put
Rivals and an end to the efferves-
~. p,,. cence If the powers would
recognize him as sultan
and turn over to him the arms and NUM-
| lions at Mogador
On the other hand Abd-e-Aziz has pro-
claimed Mulay Hahd rebel and it is
| rumored that the sultan is now disposed to
appeal to France and Spain to establish or
der and normal situation in the empire
1t is not likely that Gen. Drude viii heed
the appeal Of Mulay Haad, who at the
eleventh hour would take the credit for
what Gen. Drude and Admiral Philibert
have effectually accomplished. Hahd is an
other example of the eternal delay of his
land and people Had he undertaken TO
employ his influence to restore order, pun
ish Raisuli and deliver Kad MacLean he
would have come with indisputable titles,
and popular sentiment would have recon-
mended him to the sympathetic consdera-
ton of the powers. Haft1 Is a procrasti-
nator and dallied with his fate.
The journal LItalia contains mention of
an interview with Col. Ferrare, director of
rare is in Italy at this moment, by virtue
of leave Of absence and Intercepted by
the representative Of L'Italia as to Mulay
Hafid's authority said: He did not believe
tan's competitor-serious competitor--was
his eldest brother. Mulay Mohammed, still
confined In prison at Fee. but whose popu-
larity is great
Mulay Mohammed then may shortly
make his appearance on the scene and con-
test with his brothers the throne of Abd-el-
Aziz.
When Gen. Drudes mission shall have
been concluded by an agreement with the
a1l-powerful tribesmen at Casa Blanca
France and Europe may look on at the con-
f1ict. which promises to rage violently be-
tween the three sultans and those who may
attach themselves to one side or the other,
with grim satisfaction. 1t will be Kill
kenny cat fight. which should cheer the
soul of all peacefully disposed people who
| would see these incorrigible bandits re-
ceive lasting lesson. Morocco has been
a scourge to civilization 1t would be JUS
tice If they should destroy themselves.
*
Muiay Abd-el-Aziz provoked this con-
troversy over Morocco in the hope that he
might light the fires of
All LOOK European war. in which pos
Allie sibly he might free Morocco
of the presence OF the Eu-
ropean. Europe indeed. has little choice
in the candidacy Of either one Of the three
sultans: one and all are equally Indifferent
to her.
Mulay Abd-el-Aziz, the actual sultan has
the advantage of having been recognized
by all the powers with whom he has signed
treaties. The conference at Algeciras be-
sides. has been for him an additional guar
antee. From the first day to the last there
has been a constant assurance of the In
tegrity of the territory and of the rights
of the sovereign of Morocco. 1t was In
proclaiming that integrity that the con-
ference was opened and closed. 1t ia not
at all likely then that the powers may
listen to any proposition. however seductive,
from his rivals. to recognize their sue
cesSion.
The Temps writes on this subject: From
the French point Of view the choice be-
tween the spltans Is particularly difficult.
We should exercise great prudence as to
Mulay Hafd. Our experience with ADD
el-Aziz does not attach US strongly to him
He has never kept any Of his engagements
promises upon promises without having
kept one of them. He was against us as
the instrument. first. of England and then
Of Germany We would see him disappear
without regret But that disappearance
would remain a trouble because of the un-
certainty of the next day. In this conflict
Of the sultans we should act with caution"
If 1t be true that the tribesmen at Casa
Blanca have voluntarily treated with Gen
Drude the punishment received at the
hands Of the French army and navy has
proved salutary lesson. The tribesmen 1t
should be understood, are we'll aware that
the season of the equinox and the coming
winds Of winter will drive the French fleet
from Casa Blanca to Tangier. But not
even this prospective withdrawal from Casa
Blanca has prevented them from suing for
peace. and the tribesmen, including the
Blue Men, are no weaklings.
A late note about Ralsuli shows that he
too, has heard from Casa Blanca -haisuli
forgoes ransom for Kaid MacLean He
asks Great Britain to assure IN and his
relatives immunity and compensation for
the destruction of his property by the sui
tan's troops. and finally that he should be
made governor OF the hill tribes Great
Britain refused.
There was a time when 1t was flood
tide In the fortunes of Pajc