Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

Dispatches from Tangier announce that
the tribes in Morocco are in state OF
ferment and that 5000
Tokens of tribesmen are gathered in
rL, the Taxa region These
dispatches are construed
pessmistically by some critics. who see
.bloodshed and plenty of it, in Morocco.
and they foreshadow that France will
be sorry for her bargain. over which
she gloated so much to the discontinue
of Germany.
While il is true that there may be
plenty OF bioodshed in Morocco, France
cannot be charged with provoking il. His
tory is there To show that France merits
we'll of the entire commercial world which
in common with the United States suf-
fered outrage from the pirates and cor
sairs of the Mediterranean. The United
States. more than others. should recognize
the service rendered 10y France in her
campaigns in the Barbary states. for
mediately after her war for independence
was unable TO punish they deserved
the outrages committed against Ameri-
can commerce and American seamen.
AS for France being sorry for her
bargain, that may prove true. but il is
not true that France .'gloated over Ger
many The Algeciras conference. COM
posed of the European powers. including
America. practically held the hands OF
Germany and prevented her interference
in Morocco.
If the Moroccans are decided upon a
general revolt they may be justly charged
with having short memories. They have
scarcely forgotten the battle OF lsly.
where. the 18th of August. 1874. Gen.
Bugeaud. marechai of France admin
istered to the fathers of these Moroccans
one of those formidable ''raclees. or. AS
we say. hck1ngs. which the sons of
Taxa will ponder well before taking the
field Bugeaud is dead. but I.yautey is
no strange name among the warrior
tribes of the mountains of Morocco on
the Algerian frontier
The public has head little of tile de-
tails OF the surprise and massacre of
French soldiers and officers
massacre at Fee by the Sheriiians.
who We're being too quick
~ submitted to the regime
and discipline of their French instructors
That the French should have been taken
off their guard is one of the many acct
dents to which armies of occupation are
exposed. 1t has occurred TO the Brton.
the German. the Italian and the Span
lard, and the French have shown that
they were no exception TO the rule
There should have been "a lesson in the
attacks upon the French and English
conSulateS in Morocco. which eliminated
in the assassination of DIR. Mauchamp. a
French resident of Marrakecho. This was
in 1907. This unfortunate incident was
followed by the assassination of Lieut.
Marchank and Sergt Hyver.. January H.
~ H. laft y.
Chailley said in his journal. La Quin-
Zaine Coloniale under the caption, Mu-
lay Hafid in Danger; NJ. BRAND had
proceeded with uncomfortable slowness i'll
avenging these murders. Not only Gen.
Monier had not been given the 5000 sol
TO. France and threatened with punish
ment for daring to suggest what was
termed an adventure" by the pacifists.
1t is recalled that i'm 1911 Mulay Hafid
formed suspicious attachment with his
brother Mulay-Zin. who was proclaimed
sultan at Mekinez by the insurgent Fem
mours. At that time Mulay Hafd was
openly charged with deception and de-
lection.
The writer. commenting on this cent in
1911. held that grave fault had been
committed. The sultan. MakhZen. mill
tary mission and foreign residents alike,
bag and baggage. should be withdrawn
from Fee to some provisional capital ana
PROVISIONAL cdD1Idl eStdbHSHed dl MtH-
diva or Robat Fee might have been al
lowed, to use the familiar expression of
"A British statesman as to the Sudan, ito
stew i'm its own juice.
Other factors have been permitted to
intervene and sap the situation of the
French in Morocco Among
Spanish these were the Franciscan
:. ish secret treaties. which
AIedtleS. have only been partially
explained and these have been followed
bv the Spanish negotiations still pending
All these things, / repeat have weakened
French prestige in Morocco and led TO the
s,,rprise and massacre at Fee in April OF
this year
Mulay-Hafids situation the French gov
eminent should have known has been
distressing since the inception OF inc
Moroccan question in 1907. There Is lttie
wonder. therefore, th ma,,ra M sthenia f'a'o
Mulay -Hatid is at present possessed
with the idea of abdication. Indeed, he
has had the idea since 1911. In Septeii,-
Der Of that year he asked the french
to agree in writing to recoS-
nize his privilege to abdicate at will, to
reside in Morocco. or wherever he might
elect In recent conversation with NJ.
Repnault. French minister, and Gen.
Moinier. the sultan referred to that
agreement which, he stated, was signed
nv NJ. de Selves But NJ. de Selves is re-
ported to have declared that he knows
nothing of such an agreement.
1t is recalled that until the arrival OF
French troops at Fee in the beginning of
1912 the French government paid no
heed to Mulay-IIafid. who was permitted
to drift, and take care of himself AS best
he might Mulay-lIafid concluded very
naturally that his abdication would he
welcomed by the government at Paris.
4 regency during the minority of his
son would perhaps suit the purpose of the
French government, while it
Snltan would leave Mulay-Hafd es-
A., tablished in France from all
1Aiidlu' personal danger. Fear OF
has grown upon Mulay-
Hafid since the recent revolt.
He has become nervous and irritable
and subject to violent attacks, succeeded
bv dependency. In his intimate circle
of friends among the cherifs and notables
he endeavors to explain his position,
which has always been dictated by the
interests of Islam. 1t is reported that
he has assured these friends that
whatever happens he VII not consent TO
plav the role of the Bey of Tunis.
His abdication. needless to say, will he
accepted by the tribes as proof that he
has been coerced by the French govern
ment With this argument they Will pro-
claim that their religion is menaced and