The Morning Post of Tuesday publishes a most interesting message
from its special correspondent in Morocco, Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett, who has succeeded in reaching Fez. He says that the news of the French occupation of Asemmur was received with consternation. Mulai Hafid is "deter- mined to know the attitude of France towards him." If she attempts to restore Abd-ul-Aziz to the throne, he will call all the tribes to his support, and they will "die to the last man rather than surrender the independence of the country." Mula.i Hafid is prepared to abide by the Algeciras Act till the country is settled, but afterwards he would call a fresh Conference. Fez is one large armed camp, and the former troops of Abd-ul-Aziz are drilled daily in the interests of the new Sultan. In another message, published on Friday, Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett seems much more doubtful of the Willingness of the tribes to die to the last man. He takes back a statement he bad made as to Mulai Hafid having secured the allegiance of the people by his moderation, and declares that, on the contrary, the old taxes of Abd-ul-Aziz have been reimposed. The consternation caused by the occupa- tion of Asemmur was naturally eased by the withdrawal of the French. When an observer on the spot finds it so difficult to ascertain the facts and judge the temper of the people, we at a distance may well despair.
