The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-03
GERMANY Anglers FRANCE
NEW POLICY IN MOROCCO con-
DEEMED AS SELFISH.
French and Spanish Governments Have
Been Dealing. Slowly With iuiai
Hand In Interests Of All Europe
-Moors Attack Post In AIsiers.
Special Gable Despatch 10 THs sun.

HhIu III hlttTtbts VI All Eur OpC
-Moors Attack Post In Aisiers.
Special Cable Despatch 10 THB Sun.
PARIS. Sept, 2.-Germany's gratuitous
advocacy Of Mulai Hafd. coming on top
of the sudden and unexpected departure
Of DR.. Vassel, the German Consul at Tan
gier, for Fec. has created general surprise
and indignation. 1t Is interpreted as sig
nifying Germany's intention to solve the
Moroccan question in her own interest,
ignoring the fact that France and Spain, as
mandatories of the Algeciras conference,
we're already engaged in inquiries. to en-
able them to ascertain how far Mulai
Haid's authority could be regarded as
permanent.
1t Is stated that when the German
Charge d'Affaires here communicated his
Governments note to the Foreign Offioe
this afternoon he received formal acknowl-
edgment accompanied by an expression
Of surprise at the stop, which in the cir
cumstances is inexplicable.
The Temps prints this evening what is
presumably an official note designed to
; combat the %insinustion that France is
temporizing in regard to the recognition
Of Mulai Hahd. 1t says:
.Since the proclamation Of Mulai Ha61
at Tangier, France, through her Minister
there, has replied to inquiries Of the
Moorish Ministers that che would not
interfere in the dynastic question and
only demanded the maintenance Of order.
while che defined her viewpoint by the
following statements:
aFirst-It is necessary that the Powers
should, as a preliminary, consider the
plarantees necessary for European in
terests.
-Second-An agreement Of the Powers
az to these guarantees is as necessary
al the guarantees themselves.
.Third--Too little Is known OF the
interior situation in Morocco to permit
Of a decision being taken until full in'
formation can be gained.
.Fourth-Under these reserves. France
has at no time shown any intention Of
refusing to recognize Mulai Hafd. She
only intends to define her actual attitude.
, Since August 20 France and Spain
have considered these four propositions
with the purpose of submitting to the
Powers the conclusions drawn there
from. Their viewpoint thus defined is
known to all the chancelle-ies-and hitherto
has not aroused any objection
The foregoing definition Of the French
attitude must be regarded as en- %incontest-
ble statement. The fact of its disinter-
estedness is accumulated by news received
to-day of an attack on a French outpost
Mt Bou-Denib, near the Algerian frontier.
BY a force commanded by one Of Mulai
Hafd's officers. The Haidist troops
seem to nave attacked the garrison of
$500, whose safety is somewhat in doubt.
II certainly can be contended from
this that Mulai Hafd must be responsible
for the attack. or else il incapable Of
restraining his troops his authority as
Sultan and his power OF protecting Euro
peans remain to be proved.
The Temps, whose comments on foreign
affairs frequently emanate from Foreign
Office sources. says editorially:
Germany, though Of course entitled
to choose lar own policy in Morocco. must
not complain If owing to the singularity
OF her attitude she finds herself isolated.
The other Powers which agreed to act
more prudently will retain sufficient
authority TO obtain without her the guar
antees necessary fos Europe
The Temps continues: France Is con-
soious OF working for the benefit OF all
when she demands that certain indispensa-
BILE guarantees be obtained before the
recognition Of the new Sultan. She he's
the assurance that the Powers are OF this
opinion. She believed that Germany
also shared it. II she must now recog-
nize that this is no longer the case she
will regret it, but her line Of conduct
will not be modified"
The Temps concludes by expressing
the hope that Mulai Hafd will remember
when he gets the olive branch carried
by DR.. Vassel that Germany has been
known to change her proteges both in
Morocco and elsewhere and that the
most prompt ~recognitions are not always
the most lasting.
The journal des De5dts processes to
be too much accustomed TO Germany's
methods to be astonishei. The only
novelty Of the communication ia the
s~uddenness with which it is made. a
manifestation which is neither timely nor
intended to please.
Except for the aforesaid note Of the
Temps. the Government has made no
declaration or given any indication Of
the course it intends to follow. 1t had
previously made known that it did not
propose to take notiee Of Vass,l's return
or to treat the incident az an intention
on Germany's part to act disloyally to
the Allgeciras agreement. though 1t did
not conceal the view that the Consul's
action wal regrettable.
The Bourse was adversely affected by
the incident. but there was no manifesto
ton Of popular wrath or d~iscomposure
anywhere.