Evening star., 1955-10-02


on the other hand. this re.
porter had no trouble reaching
an ofiicial Residence spokesman
in Rahat who declared that In
his opinion the appointment d
8 regent represented sa tempo
rary conpromise" which leaves
the door open for government
action Of various kinds. =
Asked II the appointment
seriously jeopardizes subsequent
steps in the government plan
the spokesman replied: sI don't
believe so.n 6
The same note Of hopeful un.
certainty Is struck here. Mr.. Juls
Is also inclined to look on thu
naming Of q regent for the
Sultan as q Temporary stage
IN the plan for Moroccan self.
government. There is, he slg.
gests. nothing incompatible be.
tween the appointment and thu
setting up Of q regency council
Others React Differently
Others have reacted differently
10 the developments. Two high
government officials who played
q leading part In negotiation
leading up to the Sultaii's depar.
ture have submitted their resig.
nations In protest over thu
failure to carry out the instruc-
tions Of the government. A
spokesman for the Istiqlai. Mo.
roccan nationalist organization
has denounced the new regent
as even more unacceptable thar
the Sultan himself. +
on the other side of the fence
those who oppose the govern.
ment's plan Of Moroccan reform
seem well satisfied with ths
course Of events.
Latour himself has thrown
little light on his decision. II
radio address In Rabat today hi
made a general appeal for calm
urging both French and Moroc-
cans to rally for the moment.
the person Of the new
was directed primarily at the
regent. Significantly. his appeal
Moroccans rather than the
French residents Of the protec.
torate. The regents appointment
was clearly not q last minute
inspiration on the part Of ths
Sultan.
Instead, there Is every reason
TO believe II was q compromise
reached between the French
Resident General and leaders oi
the militant organization oi
French settlers in Morocco
known as Presence Francaise.
Militant Action Urged
For weeks this group has
sworn in increasingly forceful
terms to prevent the removal Of
Sultan ben Arafa. They have
looked on his departure as the
first move In plan to destroy
French influence and French In
terests In Morocco.
As Benarafas exit became more
imminent. armed groups oi
Presence Francaise members sur
rounded the palace In Rabat
their radio cars patrolled tht
streets stifnmoning Frenchmen x
action and roadblocks manned
by unofficial volunteers vert
set up between Rabat and Casa.
blanca.
Gen. Latour has good reason
TO try to reach a cornpronnist
with the Presence Francaise. q
1t came 10 q real showdown u
which French security forces and
police we're called into action
against local Frencllnen there
Was-and still is--a distinct pos
sibility Of military mutiny.
Even with overwhelming mill
tary force 1t his disposal. Gen
Latour could not be sure Of hi:
ability TO- SUPPRESS Q determined
revolt Of French colonists.
Compromise Believed Reached
The compromise apparently
was reached yesterday afternoon
Leaders Of q mob Of some l,6Ot
settlers marched on the residence
and their leaders were received
by Gen. Latour.
On leaving. Bernard ie corol.
Ter president Of Presence Fran.
caise. pleaded with the crowd tt
keep calm. A solution, he said
had been reached. II It was mol
exactly the solution they had
hoped for retention Of Ber
Arafa on the throne) neither wal
1t that which they most feared
establishment Of q regenc,
council.
Mr.. lie Coroller. at least. wa.
clear on the meaning Of the
Sultan's forthcoming partinf
declaration.
There viii be no regency
council he told his followers.
r. s.ak..ssx~ Ak.nrn x.s. = 80 <9te.