Evening star., 1924-11-04
WORLD PROBLEM
IN NORTH MOROCCO
Failure of Spain to Fulfill
Treaties by Pacification
Creates Serious Situation.
BY PAUL SCOTT MoWRER.
BY Radio TO the Star and the Chicago Daily
News.

BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.
By Radio to the Star and the Chicago Daily
News
MOROCCAN WAR ZONE, November
4.-Spain's apparent humiliation and
defeat at the hands of the mysterious
Riffian chieftain. Abdelkrim, raises
a grave international problem.
Whether Spain is driven forcibly from
north Africa or retires voluntarily,
the results will be considered the
same; merely the obvious failure of
Spain to fulfill the mission of pacifi-
cation accorded TO it by the existing
treaties and the consequent necessity
for revising the international status
of north Morocco.
The question interests not only
France, as the preponderant power in
northern Africa, and Great. Britain.
as the self-constituted guardian of
the Straits of Gibraltar. but even the
United States. which, with the other
powers. was a signatory of the act of
the Algerias.
The situation is further complica ted
by the apparent demand of the vic
torious Riftian- chieftain for com
plete independence and his presumed
intention of lighting any one and
every one who ventures by force of
arms to contest this independ
Natural stronghold.
The Riff Mountains are vast
natural stronghold and their inhabi-
tants are not only unusually skillful
with rifles and exceptionally well
provided with arms and ammunition.
but they are remarkably determined
and united. 1t IS probable that the
Rift would therefore be hard nut
even for France to crack and the
general opinion seems to be that an
international conference must be
held in the near future to study the
affair.
To this conference. it is believed
the United States and possibly other
powers will be invited, but its pro-
tagonists will be France. Great Britain
and Spain. Spain, it is thought, will
endeavor to effect temporary under
standing with Abdelkrim. 1t is
known that the Spanish have already
begun negotiations to this end. al
though thus far without success.
Moreover. the fact that Spain has
failed TO fulfill her mission of pacifi-
cation makes it doubtful if any of the
other powers will be ready to sup
port the Spanish desire to preserve
her present treaty rights. 1t is be-
lieved that Great Britain will lend its
diplomatic support to Abdeikrim and
urge the recognition of Riffian inde-
pendence, thereby keeping France
from eventually overturning the Riff
and obtaining a foothold on the
Mediterranean Coast opposite Gibral-
tar.
To Oppose Indepe ndence.
France, it is practically certain.
will oppose Riff independence. The
French feeling is that the existence
of an independent MosIem state in
hn Of
continual agitation and danger
throughout north Africa. and, indeed.
throughout the whole Moslem world.
At the same time, the French have
now no international mandate to
enter the Riff and no apparent dis
position to infringe existing treaties
Furthermore. the desire of the French
government to effect economies and
reduce its military establishment
makes it doubtful whether the French
just now feel able to undertake what
would at best be q long and costly
campaign.
What solution of the Riff problem
French diplomacy might propose at
an international conference therefore
Is not clear. The situation undoubt-
edly contains grave menace to
French power in north Africa.
Regarding either Abdelkrim or his
country, only the vaguest information
is available Despite its proximity to
Europe the Riff is one of the least
explored regions of Africa. Span
ish airplanes have frequently flown
over its narrow valleys. desert plains
and tumultuous mountains. Yet
even the Spanish have no accurate
maps and know little about the ma
ture of the country or its inhabitants
who have always conducted endless
feuds between themselves, but have
systematically excluded foreigners.
One French writer who accompanied
a French engineer succeeded in visit
ing the Riff two years ago and he
has written an interesting account
of the trip. Some years ago a Brit
iSh journalist was received by
Abdelkrim and one British engineer
is' known to have been in the Riff.
Needless to say, no American has yet
SEEN the country. The visits Of these
few foreigners were rendered possible
by the fact that the French, until
anout six months ago, allowed those
who desired to go and come as they
pleased between the French zone and
the Riff. But since the outbreak of hos
tilities between the French and Abdel-
hrim, dangers and difficulties have
multiplied and no European has ever
attempted to slip between the out
posts and the bandit-infested inter-
iHeoldte region, or TO 1ntfuSt his life
and liberty to the primitive Riffian
warriors. rs..
Consequently, Of trustworthy in
formation regarding Abdelkrim, his
encourage, his actual and potential
strength. his aims and ambitions.
now he lives and reigns, there is
practically none. Dominating the
entire situation are the mystery ano
menace Of the unknown.
ttopyrglt. 1924 nv Chicap 20 DsfIv r.u~ r. ,
Observation-Disclosures