The Holbrook news., 1912-06-21

Morocco. Now that she has 8
 free hand she will be able to proceed with her long-deferred
 projects, particularly in the cen tral belt from Casablanca through to Algeria, toward the occupation of which she has already made formida-
 ble beginning. Most important of these projects, and probably first to receive attention, is construction of port near Casablanca and laying of a railroad from this port to connect with the Algerian system on the east
 Having come to agreement with England and Spain, France was on the road to dominating affairs in the land of the ParasoI six years ago, when Emperor William made his dra- matic visit to Tangier, and German opposition manifested itself so acute ly that the conference at Algeciras had to be called to prevent Euro pean war. The results of that con ference seemed to bottle up French ambitions indefinitely, but in reality they have gone forward quietly and partially. Now that they can proceed openly and unrestrictedly 1t will be with the immense advantage of a sub stantial beginning from which to work.
 The treaty of AIgeciras, signed in 1906, aimed to give Europeans a chance to develop Morocco as indi- viduals while keeping their hands on as nations. It's purpose was to main tain that excellent but unstable con- dition known as the status quo" Ex- cept for a limited European control in the eight "open ports" there was to be no government in Morocco but that of the sultan. Unfortunately there was nothing in the treaty to maintain the government of the sul- tan. There was nothing in Morocco to maintain it, either. For the five years since the treaty went into ef- feet Fl Mogreb has been the scene of perpetual insurrections and unrest, remarkable even for that country of frequent warfare. In course of this short period there b, e been two suI- tans on the throne and at least two formidable pretenders for their jobs. Much of the time it has been impos- sible for Europeans to live in or even
  the eight "open ports"
 Friends of Morocco are not sorry, therefore, that after playing blind mans bun behind the treaty of AL geciras for five years, the powers Of Europe seem disposed to let 1t pass into oblivion. The era of individual rather than national enterprise which | it aimed to introduce in Morocco | might have been ideal if it had been realized. It failed practically because | conditions have been such that few | individuals cared to risk life or prop erty in the turmoil
 WarshIps Shell a Town.
 Meanwhile France has been making hay even though the sun refused to shine. She has accepted such few rays as fell on the field, and made the best of them. Her first chance came only a year after the signing of the treaty of Algeciras, when the killing of nine Europeans employed in the construction of jetty by French company at Casablanca gave excuse for dispatching warships and shelIing the town until the streets were strewn with dead Moors.
 Under terms of the treaty France and Spain had been delegated jointly as protectors of the lives and property of Europeans in Casablanca, one of the eight "open ports" where they were guaranteed right to reside and trade. France promptly took advan- tage of this to land troops and gar rison the town after the lombard ment. She has garrisoned it ever since. Not only that, but (acting al- ways as protector of Europeans in of course) she began campaign of pacific penetration" in- to the surrounding country and for a year engaged in continual warfare against the nearby tribes, employing for the purpose at one time as many as 15,000 soldiers. In the end it left her master of not far from 5000 square miles of territory in the rich est and most strategic location in Morocco, a position which she has and strengthened ever since.
 Intrenched on two sides of the coun-