The Washington times., 1919-05-11
CHAPTER XIII.

nee more free to concentrate his attention his
plans for making a garden of the desert wastes
~ of Sahara and setting up empire there
Jacques Lebaudy made up his mind longer defy the
nations of Europe but frankly to ask their consent to his
undertaking
At the time he reached this decision told in these
pages last Sunday conference of diplomatic representa-
tives of all the great world powers about be held
at Agecras to discuss the tangled affairs of Morocco
Lebaudy jumped this opportunity of presenting his
case without the expense and delay of corresponding
separately with the various governments of visiting
their capitals in person.
For weeks he worked strenuously all day long and
often far into the night debating corps of secretaries
elaborate of his imperial plans At last
completed. In a final paragraph Lebaudy summed up
his case follows:
Il respectfully ask the permission Of the assembled
representatives of the great powers of the world to
quer cvze and coonze such portions Of the Desert of
Sahara have described above If am allowed to do
this will make happy prosperous empire OF the dreary
wastes of sand which useful purpose, but
are, the contrary, perpetual menace to the peace OF
the rest Of the world
This exhaustive summary of his plans was entrusted
to confidential agents. who hasened to Ageciras in
to be there at the beginning of the conference
Lebaudy held himself in readiness follow and make his
appeal in person he received word that his
petition actually under consideration.
But the summons to AlgeciraS which he fondly
pected Instead the wires and mails brought
the most diScouraging
The conference positively refused to consider Le-
baudys claims empire unless their consideration
especially requested by the representatives of France
And the French diplomats doubtless obeyng instructions
from the Foreign Office in Paris not disposed to
make any such request In fact they showed tendency
to regard the whole matter huge joke
When news finally reached Lcbaudy that the confer
had closed without giving his plans any cOnsidera
tion he overwhelmed with disappointment and rage.
What made his latest failure to attain his heart desire
particularly bitter the fact that his native andhe
country where his father had amaSSed his fortune and
where the bulk of his wealth invcSted-had
hearteSSly refused to recognize him legitimate empire
builder.
As Debaudy paced like Gagged tiger mp and down his
study he cursed the land which had borne him, The
French Government was he firmly believed, bent de-
stroying him. The idea of living longer in a country
where such injustice could prevail was intoerable.
He would his citizenship in France dispose
of all his property there and to the United States In
that land of freedom and progress where people have the
good to welcome ideas instead of laughing at
them. his imperial plans to receive sympathetic
encouragement
When his dreams finally rcalized-when the
Sahara bOOmed like garden and he welded the Sceptre
over all its fertile fields and pOpulouS cities-ah thai
would be revenge worth having The knowledge thai
he had succeeded in his purpose not only without the aid
Of France but in the face Of that cOunryS bitter OppoS