New-York tribune., 1910-09-24
Tried to Bribe the Minister.

In none OF the obituaries Of Sir Charles
Fran Smith, who died the other day al
most wholly forgotten, was any mention
made of the sensational attempt to brfbe
him when he was Minister Plenipotentiary
in Morocco. a number Of years ago Mo-
rocco was in those days, from diplomatic
point OF view. an even still more important
post than II IS to-day, and Lord SALISBURY
was wont to declare that far more than
Turkey. the Balkans, Greece and the Far
Orient did II constitute the principal
danger point Of Europe
Sir Charles had succeeded IN negotiating
q satisfactory commercial treaty with the
Sultan. at Fez On examining the docu-
ment at the last minute, prior to signature
and sealing. Sir Charles, thanks TO his per
feet knowledge Of Arabic, discovered that
the words Of some Of the clauses had been
altered IN such a way as 10 give certain
advantages 10 Morocco The Moorish
Premier eutreated Sir Charles 10 let the
alterations stand. and begged his accept
ance Of a number Of valuable presents
which he had brought with him, including
hays Of English gold amounting TO no less
than 500 900.
Sir Charles tore the treaty Up, threw the
pieces in the Prime Minister'S face and
drove him from his presence with the most
yrftherinz expressions Of indignation at the
insult OF which the Moorish statesman and
his master had rendered themselves guilty
He then rode OF 10 the palace and had a
most stormy interview with the Sultan,
who threatened 10 kin him, a menace not
70 be derided. since Fez is a hOtbed Of
Moorish religious and nationalist fanau-
cisu3. where foreigners OF every kind are
hated and whittier they rarely venture. and
then only under the immediate protection
% the Sultan Sir Charles. on receiving
this threat. replied quietly: You can do
eo BUT there will never again be q Sultan
of Morocco
Thereupon he announced his refusal 70
hold any further communication, either
with the Sultan or with any Of his minis
rers. spurned the emissaries sent by the
Srl-sn TO entreat his forgiveness and TO
,.os.none his departure and left for Tan
-ar in the face Of great personal danger,
since there was hardly a man IN t'eZ VINO
did not know that there had been com
rlara break between the British envoy ana
the Sultan. On reaching Tangier he caDled
20 Lord Salisbury stating what had taken
So and recommended his own recall as
an indication Of England's disp4easure at
+be fndignfty TO which the envoy had been
subjected
SIR Charles was recalled. but instead OF
,a,,,, rewarded for the manner in which
h. had handled the situation (the only
r,,-ne- ,ossibi.. in the eyes Of any one
,,ossessed Of the intimate acquaintance with
-. orient enioved by Sir Charlesb he was
Lei, for FIVE wears without employment
and although the Moorish mission Is gen
orally regarded as the stepping stone |"
a first class legation IN Europe he was as
signed 10 the post OF minister resident a.
Bogota-
HAD Sir Charles been 4 well-to-do man
he would have declined the post for lAeSe
small Central and South American repuDIlcs
are regarded by European diplomacy as the
Fzotauv Bay Of the service. and many - the
secretary Of legation. English and CoHI-
mental who has preferred 10 remain on as
s,,ch In some European capital rather taan
accent promotion TO the rank OF minister III
s,,cb places as Bogota or Caracas
Str Charles remained At BogUta for a
,o,,-,;e OF years and then retired he was
!. most distinguished public servant and
.-ayIant soldier. OF whom the University Of
ov,ora thought 50 highly that IT conferred
-, h.rS the honorary degree OF .. G. L
: l,ss -st,.rn from Morocco as a token OF
..-',,-,-ai Of the manner in which he had
eta the name Of England for honorable
..,lirr Al Fez. He played leading part
=, ,be abolition CT the slave trade in Zanzi-
= and in The transformation Of that sui
.a-a.. into q British protectorate and into
Ill ordered well governed, vassal state.
Er,s -,ilitary services include the Zulu and
st,,-sg,rian wars and that Afghan cam
.,ais,D which eliminated in the historic
,--,rcb TO X andshaT. and throughout which
= 80 the chief political officer an the
-,.er - F-ield Marshal Lord Roberts
aTARoUISF DE F0NrETOY