HURRIED RETREAT

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 9

HURRIED RETREAT

SPANIARDS IN MOROCCO. COMPLETE EVACUATION. (by gabu—pzzss association—•coptjught.) ("the TnißS.") LONDON, November 16. Tiie Paris correspondent of "The Times," discussing French policy in Morocco, suys that the completeness of the Spanish evacuation and the danger of fui tiii'r < linos in Spain are not favourable to Franco-Spanish agreement. The Spanish forces arc precipitately retreating to the coast. So swift is their disordered retreat that, while courtesy forbids calling it a flight, military observers cannot catch up with the movement by moving the flag 3 on their maps. The Riff is being left free of supervision by any European Power and Abd el Krim, the Itiff leader, may well speak of independence, but France cannot permit the creation of a native State' which would seriously hamper her Moroccan occupation. France will inevitably have to decide on some definite line of action, although this goes against her grain at present, when money is scarce and men even more scarce. France cuividcrs that in lier own int'; res Is Great Lritain must approve a firm policy Ln'vards Abd el Krim, and v.-Jiaiev i' decision is taken British conS'jnt una i optralien will bo sought as m necessary cuollary to the success cf a eoiouial pciiiv in which both arc equally interested.