Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24
THE TWO SULTANS OF MOROCCO.

The publication Of the German white
book on Morocco: the dispatch OF am
bassadors'' to Berlin by
Reviving Mulay-Hafid; the attack
at Menabha. and the con-
ference at Paris on the
future policy of government are incl
dents that revive the worlds interest In
the Moroccan conflict.
The white book contains o6s pages di-
vided into fourteen sections. each "e-
voted to a special subject 1t begins WIN
the Franco-Spanish demonstration IN
1906 the assassination of DR.. Maucha"p'
the murder of tho nine Europeans a,
Tangier the Franco-Spanish debarkment
at Casa Blanca, the French propositioh
to create a provisional police In the
menaced ports without Moroccans. the
German note as to the indemnities ex-
pressing hope that the interests OF Ger
man merchants would he respected the
reply of NJ. Cambon that the French
government authorized him TO assume
the engagement to protect German inter
ests etc
The most interesting part OF the Wnl1e
hook relates to the efforts OF the sultan.
Add Aziz. and his minister OF foreign
affairs to induce NJ. Rosen German MN.
lister. to visit him and with the ob]ec'
Of recalling the emperor's declarations on
the occasion of his visit to Tangier. ana
to request that the German government
protest against the action OF France
in Morocco as violation of the act OF
Algebra. This action by the makhzen
was taken through NJ Neudoerf1er, Ger
man vice consul at Rabat and again
through certain Capt. Woin. VINO nelo
no recognized official function at the
Cherif1an court.
NJ Rosen's attitude was courteous and
correct and he declared that he could not
understand the motives OF Sultan And-
el-Aziz, who had already invited the no.
tables of Rabat and Sale not to raise
objections against the decisions OF the
makhzen If 1t asked the aid of the French
Mulay-Hafid also asked If the action of
France was sanctioned by the powers
and particularly by. GERMANY. He desired
Germany to prevent France from inter-
fering in the uuarrels Of two brothers
the same being question OF the interior
affairs of Morocco. Mulay-Hahd amrmed
that II he assembled the throne he would
respect the rights of foreigners In Mo-
rocco.
On January "a of this year the secretary
Of state for foreign affairs replied to the
two sultans. He remark
Germany's ed to each that France
r,n,;+. had declared several
times her formal inten-
ton not to go beyond the limits OF the
Algeciras convention. II the Moroccan
government had proofs OF a violation Of
the act of Algeciras by France. the sui
tan's government should address the sig
natory powers which have their repre-
sentatives at Tangier. Germany could
no longer act alone since the signing
of the act of Algeciras.
NJ. Won Schoen communicated the sub
ject Of these notes to the French govern
ment. He added in his reply to the notes
Of Sultan Abd-el-Aziz that in his several
manifestoes the latter had led the German
government to believe that he approved
the action Of the French government
Both NJ. Pichon and NJ. Clemenceau in
their replies assured NJ. Won SchOen that
France would withdraw her troops as soon
designs upon Morocco. I'VE will not co."
said NJ Pichon. either to Marakech
or to Fee. 1 assure you. formally. that
we do not desire a protectorate"
clared his establishment at the action of
Abd-el-Az.z. France. without interfering
in the quarrel of the two sultans sus-
tanned Abd-el-Aziz in the interest of Eu-
ropeans, because. being the legitimate
sultan. he still has a certain power.
Mulay-Hafid had been proclaimed sultan
only on condition that he should not re-
spect the Algeciras act.
NJ PichOn has doubtless a very bad
opinion OF Mulay-Hafld. who is not en-
titled to any consideration whatever not
only because Europe had agreed to main
tain and support Abd-el-Aziz. but Mulay
had proclaimed holy war not only against
France but against all Europe. He is.
therefore, a menace to peace. commerce.
and the existence Of European colonies in
Morocco.
Under such circumstances there has
been much surprise expressed in diplO-
Hafid should have been accorded even
semi-official reception at Berlin.
1t is recalled in this connection that
when Kaiser William landed at Tangier
March 81. 1905. he said in his speech to
the Cherifian authorities who received
him:
My visit is to the Sultan Abd-el-Aziz in
his quality as Independent sovereign. I
hope that under the sovereignty of the
sultan free Morocco will remain open TO
the pacific struggles of all nations. nv
visit to Tangier has for object to make
it understood that 7 will maintain effica-
ciously the interests of Germany in Mo-
rocco
The Figaro is disposed notwithstand-
ing the semi-official character Of the re-
ception accorded the am
Conciliatory bassadors of Mulay-
Shirt Hafid. to recognize the
white book as evidence
of new and more conciliatory spirit
toward France. 1t says:
1.-The German policy in the Moroccan
question it appears in the white book
is. since yesterday MAY ~, the object of
bitter attacks in the German press-in
the Gazette de Voss. the Post. the
Deutsche Zeitung. the FreisinniEe Zei-
tung. etc. Here in France certain per-
sons accuse our government of tim,dity
in its Moroccan policy. The outburst Of
the pan-Germanic press will show that
our diplomacy has gagged itself and
that. acting with wisdom, II should NOT
depart therefrom.'
The Gazette de Voss said: 'When we
went to Algeciras 1t was for sonnet hing
more than. a morsel of Morocco 1t was
necessary to break the circle that was
being forged around Germany. Today
Morocco is not worth European COM
plication. But. what is more it is a
question Of the dignity Of Germany. To-
day we are at point where France
dictates orders to the imperial foreign
office and indicates who it will receive or
no.. After so many amiabe overtures to
the ambassadors Of Mulay-Haid. Ger
many can no longer do anything except
tina. which Frenchmen sanction or which
suits them.
The Moroccan situation is more seri-
Gus for France: not so much because
of Morocco. but because of Algeria. The
attack on Menabha. on the eastern from
tier of Morocco requires prompt punish
ment in order to repress revolt among