ENGLAND'S CHOICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 26 September 1907, Page 4

ENGLAND'S CHOICE.

DEATH TO THE KAID OR DEATHBLOW TO MOROCCO. I Tangier, July 31. What ought the British Government to do in the Maclean affair? It is a question of policy involving ethical and other considerations which might well form the subject of a public discussion. _ Raisuli, I understand, has formulated indirectly such terms as will compel England to choose between the sacrifice of an Englishman's life and the wrecking of the Moorish Government. Raisuli declines to treat with the Sultan, and demands that England shall immediately compel the Maghzcn to accede to his terms, and guarantee their execution. Otherwise he will kill Sir Harry Maclean.

The brigand's first condition is that England shall force the Sultan to recall the Mahalln under the implacable Bagdad! from its commanding position near Sheshuan, wher it threatens his annihilation and blocks his line of escape into the Riff country. He further demands that England shall guarantee bis governorship of the northern tribes.

England's refusal to these terms, d« dares Raisuli, means Sir Harry Ma' leanis death.

England's acceptance of these terms, say the Moors, means the disruption of Morocco and the complete undoing of Kaid Maclean's whole life-work in° the Sultan's service.

The Moors assert that Kaid Maclean's release will be the certain result of Ba"dadi's operations, which once for all will dispose of the Raisuli's difficulty. The captive, they declare, will not be kilkd in any event, while Raisuli's extermination will add to l.he security of all Europeans in the future. The Moors fear that the strengthening of Raisuli's power will precipitate a state of anarchy whhh will afford an excuse for French military interference and be the deathblow of all hope of Morocco becoming a nation.

Unhappily, Sir Henry Maclean's life seems the least important pawn in this complicated game of chess. The Maghzen's first desire is to strengthen its authority, but some foreign interests require whatever developments will leave most trouble behind.

British interests demand only Kaid Maclean's safety, but England is no longer in a position to do anything. If it were possible to land British troops, the situation would be speedily cleared, for the majority of the Tangier Moors would receive the English -with open arms. But that is now entirely out of tiie question.

What, then, ought the British Govern, ment to do!