The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-16
The Powers in the Case Of Morocco.

INV a.
On September IA representatives of
France and Spain laid before the Berlin
Government identical notes defining
what in the judgment OF the two Powers
named should be the conditions prece-
dent to the recognition Of MULAI HAFID
a Sultan Of Morocco. The conditions
are reasonable on their face and care
fully guard against the imputation of
selfish motives. It remains to be seen,
however, whether Germany will n
ton their exaction.
1t will be recalled that just before the
autumn maneuvres Of three German
army corps began in Alsace-Lorraine
the Berlin Foreign Office addressed a
note to all the s~ignatories of the Alge-
ciras convention informing them that
in it's opinion the time had come for
mally to acknowledge the title Of MULA1
HAFrD to the Sultanate. Not a word
was said in this communication about
a demand for preliminary guarantees,
and that no such demand was contem-
plated by Germany seemed a fair infer
ence from the fact that simultaneously
the German Consul-General at Tangier
had been despatched to Fee to open
diplomatic relations. With the excep-
ton OF Austria, not one Of the ~signatory
Powers expressed approval Of the I'M
conditional proposal, and in face Of the
rebuff the Berlin Foreign Office ex-
planned that MULM HAF1D would of
course be called upon to subscribe to
the Algeciras convention, but that
France and Spain ought not to expect
the recognition to be postponed until
| their individual claims had been pro-
vided for. The explanation seemed
plausible enough to those who over
looked the fact that the chief individual
claims Of France and Spain were for
reimbursement for the expenses in
Cured by them as manufactures OF the
signatory Powers in the reestablish-
ment Of order at Casablanca and in the
protection Of the lives and property of
Europeans and Americans in other
parts Of Morocco.
There is no reason to doubt that in
exacting the liquidation Of the claims
just mentioned as a condition precedent
to recognition France and Spain would
have been upheld by Great Britain and
Russia and would have commanded at
least the sympathy Of Italy. In their
willingness to conciliate Germany, how
ever, and their desire to afford no
pretext for international friction over
Morocco, France and Spain have re-
Trained from making the settlement Of
the claims in question a condition Of
recognition, but In a declaration accom-
panying their note have expressly re-
served these claims for subsequent
discussion with the new Sultan after he
shall have been officially recognized.
In their enumeration Of equitable CON
ditions precedent they have confined
themselves to such as plainly affect the
interests OF all the ~signatory Powers.
Among the stipulations Of general
interest which reasonably may be ex-
acted from MULAI HAFrD are his cov-
enant to execute the provisions OF the
Algeciras act, including the measures
involved in its application, such as the
right conferred upon France and Spain
to exclude contraband arms entering
by sea, as well as to officer the native
constabulary to be organized in the
Moroccan seaports. Open to no objec-
ton also is the demand that MULAI
HAFID should acknowledge as binding
upon himself all treaties and engage
ments made by the Foreign Board of his
predecessor with foreign Governments
and with the diplomatic corps at Tan
gier and as equally binding the awards
Of the Powers indemnity commission,
which has been sitting at Casablanca.