New-York tribune., 1908-09-03
FRANCE STANDS FIRM
IN APPEAL TO POWERS.
Kaisers Intervention en- Morocco
Causes Irritation.

Paris. Sept. 2-After an informal conference
of ministers this afternoon and an exchange OF
telegrams with Premier Clemenceau regarding
the recognition by Germany Of Mulai Hang as
Sultan of Morocco, the announcement was au-
thortzed that France intends TO pursue the pol
icy already mapped out. and that the powers
will be allowed to decide whether her course OF
that of Germany is preferable
c,ernlany's action in breaking up the concert
of the powers by informing the signatories TO
the Algeciras act that she believed that the sit
nation demanded immediate recognition Of
N,,,ai Hafg fell like a boTnbshe1l in Paris. This
no+,scation which was made verbally. was not
accompanied by any explanation OF germany
brutal change Of front" as 1t Is termed here'
and in government circles the action OF Ger
MANY and the dispatch of DR.. Vassel to Fez can
no longer be separated
officials see in Gernany's action virtual
proclamation of her intention TO disregard the
algecirss act and seek a special position in
Morocco for herself. The consequences Oo'h
from the international and the French point
of view are expected TO be deploraole' AN OH
cial view of the situation follows:
cerrnany's notification came as comple.e
e,,rrrise 10 France and Spain, which are en-
rere5 IN eIahorating a programme Of demands
10 be presented 10 Muai Hang Tor saies : udI u i
the common interests of Europe ana 80 -
Mo-ooco These demands are TO be s suoillt'eu
10 the signatories to the AlgeciraS act as SUN
as they are completed. and the powers MeIe 50
informed eight days ago. germany ,Soernad that
ception TO this course. and We preSuIlIeu 80, 80.
she was entirely satisfied until suddenly Uieio
came this crash out of a blue sky
There was no longer any question OF u~pnoIu ~
,ne Ahd-el-Aziz Both France and Spain recos-
nized that he had disappeared dehnlteiy IEoIn I
The horizon What purposed 10 90 was 70
force ATn1ai Hafg 10 ratify the engagements OF
his brother, Abd-el-Aziz, toward EUROPE oS 80
recognizing him. Now Germany comes IorM t al
i've
go be bas given anv guarantee. 1t amounts
10 1ndoing the work Of the Algec1ras conner
e-ce The mowers must decide between the po-
sition of Germany and that OF FTanGe, I T, nc 10
French position we consider to be most loyal 10
the spirit and letter of the Algeciras act
The tone of the afternoon newspapers is tenn
perate. but firm. and indicates conviction that
The opinion Of the outside world Will he on the
side Of France. The Temps says that Ger
rnsnvs move proves that she intends to play
her ovn game in Morocco. After demanding
the intervention of Europe at Algeciras, II says
Germany is now pursuing a policy in MOROCCO
without regard 10 Europe" The paper points
out that France considers herself bound TO re-
gard the situation from the general viewpoint.
even 10 fhe neglect of her own interests. Had
she desired 10 take advantage of the situation.
tbe concentration of a hostile army under one of
Nl,lai Hangs lieutenants on the Algerian
frontier would have furnished an ample excuse
to take only her military security into considera
ton Instead, France allowed Mulai Eaf1g to be
proclaimed Sultan at Oudja, and. acting in ac-
cord with Spain. she undertook TO secure pre-
lrninary guarantees to safeguard the interests OF
ali the powers and TO arrange understanding
among the powers, a thing as essential as the
guarantees themselves. This was explained re-
peatedIy to Germany through diplomatic chan
nels ITO recognize Mulai Hafig," the paper
ZVlae or
accent the Algeciras act or subscribe to the en-
gagenents Of the empire toward Europe is a pol
icy of incoherence worthy of NJ. Jaures.
Germany's note, this journal goes on means
nothing except that Germany demands the un-
conditional recognition of Mulai Hafig. Such
action is unacceptable. Germany has the right
to pursue her own policy, but if she runs counter
TO the interests Of Europe she must not be
surprised if she finds herself isolated. 1t is
certain the paper says, that the other powers
haze sufficient authority without Germany to
exact the necessary guarantees. Frances con-
duct is inspired by the general interest. and will
not be modified. The Temps adds:
Perhaps when Dr.. Eassel presents the olive
branch from the Wilhelm strasse Mulai Eafig
may remember that the favors of this particular
consul have cruel sequels; that Germany
changes her proteges in Morocco as elsewhere.
and that the promptest recognition is not always
to treat unitedly with the Sultan of Morocco.
whoever he may be, il is the interest Of the
Sultan TO treat with united Europe.