CRITICAL SITUATION IN MOROCCO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1109, 24 April 1911, Page 5

CRITICAL SITUATION IN MOROCCO.

INTENSE EXCITEMENT IN FRANCE. HAS FEZ FALLEN? LIKE GORDON AT KHARTUAI. REPORTED MASSACRE OF GARRISON By Ttlesraph-Press Associatioii-Conyruht (Rec. April 23, 5.5. p.m.) Paris, April 12. The situation in Morocco is extremely critical, and is causing great uneasiness in France. Constant fighting is going on, and gravo fears aro entertained for tho safety of the European residents of Fez. The excitement is growing in France over the delay in rescuing the French colony at Fez. Captain Moreau is collecting a force at Alcazar to relieve Major Bremond's troops in tho Sherarda district, but Raisuli refuses to allow the Kaid's transports to carry supplies to the French. The Government announces that vigorous measures will be taken to revictual Major Bremond's forces. THE GOVERNMENT'S EXISTENCE ENDANGERED. SENSATIONAL REPORTS. Paris, April 22. The Government's existence is endangered unless prompt and vigorous action is taken to save the French officers, whose position is likened to that of General Gordon at Khartum. A relief force of four thousand natives, under French officers, is at present forming, aud is expected to reach Fez cu May 3, if it meets with no serious opposition. Various reports of a sensational character 'are being received regarding the position at Fez, aud these arc naturally increasing tho anxiety in France. One of these reports states that the gamsou has Mich, and has been massacred by the victorious enemy, PRESS CRITICISM, THE GOVERNMENT'S INEPTITUDE. Paris, April 22. The French newspapers are urging the Government to take decisive measures to cope with tho dangerous situation, without paying any heed to tho carpings of the German and Spanish press. Tho "Temps" declares that Frenchmen are'in danger of death through the Government's ineptitude, and. they must be saved. "The Powers should be told outright," tho "Temps" proceeds, "what we intend to do." There are a dozen British residents in Fez, including Mr. James MTeod and family, Dr. Verdon, his wife, and two children, two English lady missionaries, and two American missionaries. There are also forty-five Frenchmen and five Germans in the city. ■ FRENCH AND MOROCCO. WHAT OCCURRED IN 1910. The French Government continued to experience difficulty in obtaining respect for their engagements with Mului Jiuiid. In January M. Piehon concluded agreements on the subject of the Shawia, tho AlgieroMoroccan frontier, and the loan which was to bo raised in order to liquidate the obligations contracted by the Maghzen. These agreements were signed by the Moroccan envoys in Paris, and were transmitted to Fez for ratification. Mulai Hand, however, was reluctant to them, and the Moorish Court made no secret of its annoyance, with the French. On February 'JO the French Government dispatched an ultimnttim to the Sultan, requiring him to sign the agreements within 43 hours. Before the ultimatum arrived the Sultan intimated that he had sent to the chief of his Embassy in Paris a ratification of tho agreements. It turned out, however, that the ratification was qualified by- a number of reservation.", and it was not until the French Consul at Fez intimated that, the 13 hours mentioned in tho ultimatum having expired, he was about to take his departure, that llulai Haiid gave way. As a result o£ tho agreement a 5 per cent, loan for <£3,250,0 l |9 was issued in Franco in May for the purpose of satisfying the creditors of the Moorish Government. A number of revolutionary movements were suppressed by tho Moorish Government. Complaints of the Sultan's cruelties to his prisoners formed the subject of diplomatic remonstrances, which were met by Mulai Hafid with the protest that he had been grossly maligned. MINISTEMAT, STATEMENTS. On January 12, 1911, M. Piehon, then Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated: The chief question which had engaged the attention of the French Government Inst year was the iinal regulation of the position of. France in Morocco. Three agreements had been concluded with Mulai Ilaiid and effect was now being given to them. The Shnwia region had never been more tranquil than it had become under French military administration. Order had been established in the Algiero-Moroccan frontier district. The mining reglement which had been drawn up contemplated equality of treatment for tho subjects of .all the Powers, and indeed the various developments which French policy had in view would redound to the general advantage. Schools and hospitals had been founded. ■ The policy of co-operating with the M.aghzen whicli had been inaugurated was likely to prove the surest guarantee against fanatical outbreaks and against the necessity for oversea expeditions in which France had no desire lo engage. The contraband traffic in arms on the Moroccan coast was being suppressed in accordance with the mandate of the Powers. France had no intention of surreptitiously seizing a fresh port like Agadir. She had promoted the Spanish agreement with .Morocco, and she would continue to administer her trust in the spirit of existing treaties. FRENCH DETACHMENT AMBUSHED. Wireless messages received at Tangier from Casablanca on January 18 stated that Captain Nancy, who had leit the Camp du Boucheron with twenty native cavalrymen and the filth squadron of goumiers to arbitrate, in a dispute between the neighbouring tribes of the Medakra and Zaer, was attacked on the evening of January 11 by a number of bandits who had laid an ambush for his column. The French force had live men killed, including Lieutenant Marchand and a quartermaster-sergeant, and six wounded. The neighbouring tribes at once sent assistance to the French forces. The attack appears to be the work of an isolated robber band. In February the "Imparcial" received a message from Casablanca, via Tangier, stating that fear of a fresh attack on the French positions was entertained as tho authors of die ambuscade on the Marehaud force had assembled at the Kasbah of Merchouch. The message added that tho whole of the Zaers district was much disturbed. THE HOLY CITY. Fez is the Holy City of the Moroccan Empire, and is one of the three, residences of tho Sultan. It was founded by Mulai Edris, the younger, about 793, and is surrounded by old walk, and has an ancient fort at each of its extremities, east and west, with three in ruins outside the walls. The city consists of two parts, Old Fez and New Fez (tho latter containing only the palace and tho Jewish quarter), and both are enclosed in walls. It is the seat of the once famous University of Morocco, and contains numerous schools. Fez is the leading commercial town of Morocco, and it has a large wholesale trade. The principal articles imported from Europe are raw and manufactured silk, cotton stuffs, cloths, paper, weapons, rjowder, tea, -£ugar, .and spices, etc.