Evening star., 1908-01-17
NOW MARKING TIME
Attitude of French in the Mo-
roccan Situation.
SOME APPREHENSION FELT
Paris Statesmen Fear They May
Back Wrong Horse.
THE GROWING FANATICISM
Recent Conference Of British Premier
With officials Of France.
Shift of Policy.

PARIS. January 17.-Premier Clemen-
ceau, Foreign Minister Pichon and Sir
Henry Campbell -Bannerman. the British
premier, who passed through the French
capital on his way from Biarritz to Lon
don recently, had long conference re-
gardinP the situation in Morocco, the re-
suit of which, however, has not been made
public.
In sace of the growing fanaticism of
the Moors in favor of Mulai Hafid the
position of France in Morocco is increas-
ingly difficult, Apprehensions are crop
ping up that perhaps France may have
been backing the wrong horse, and that
1t would be better to accept Muiai Hafid If
he does not repudiate the Algeciras pact.
At any rate, the government is now mark
ing time pending developments.
Active French support of Abd-El-Aziz
which at present could only injure his
cause with the Moors in the interior, will
not be withdrawn and position of nomi-
nal neutrality will be assumed.
AS an evidence of this shift Of policy
to fight the French general d'Amade would
take the defensive. but If attacked France
might be compelled, not only to defend
herself. but as the mandatory of Europe
TO attack the Moors. Such contingency
might force the French government to ap-
peal to the signatories of the Algeciras :
pact Tor an extension of her power.
The Attitude Of Spain.
Spain will fulfill her share of the duties
In the matter of policing the ports of
Morocco, but she will not go further.
In view of the severe fighting at Settat
two days ago NJ. Jaures, the socialist lead
er. attempted to renew his Interpolation
in the chamber of deputies today He in
sisted that the country should be informed
If the attack upon what ne called Mulai
Hafids advance guard meant that France
was siding with Abd-El-Aziz.
Foreign Minister Pichon in reply, ex-
planned that Gen. d'Amade's instructions.
like those given to Gen. Drude. his prede-
about Casa Blanca, to protect Europeans
and to punish the tribes that had partici-
pated in the pillage OF Casa Blanca. The
Chaoula trtbesmen were found and pun
ished regardless of whose partisans they
were. Our policy. which has been ap-
proved by the powers. remains un-
changed" NJ. Pichon declared in conclu-
sion.
Question Is Postponed.
The foreign minister's motion to post
pone M. Jaures' Interpolation to January
"a was then passed by 367 votes to 1877
AS an evidence Of this shift of policy
Tic ioIciSH ONCE taxes pains 10 point out
today that the attack at Settat January
Is upon a Moorish column commanded
by Mulai Rachid was in reality not di-
rected against Mulai Hafd, but only a
step in the general policy of extending
the zone of pacification around Casa
Blanca. Mulai Rachid is one OF Hafd's
chiefs. and in this engagement the
French. under Gen. d'Amade, gained q
splendid victory. Today the general tele-
graphs that the Moors lost $50 men killed
and had 800 men wounded in this engage.
ment. and that the dispersal of Mulai Rs
chid's force has cut off Mulai Hatid' S
route to FeZ.