So far, the non-official threats in Paris against Tripoli and
the Sultan continue. The Sultan is reported to be still sending troops to Tripoli, and he has not given up his claim to Tunis, and the Republique Francaise tells him that he must be compelled to abandon his attitude of hostility to France. "It is a bad joke." The Sultan is, of course, strictly within his right in strengthening Tripoli, even though, as must happen, both the Tunisian and Algerian insurgents are encouraged thereby. It is also reported that the Emperor of Morocco has pro- posed an alliance against the French to Constantinople, alleging that if some great effort is not made, his throne will be subverted. It is probable that some such communication has passed, though his Moroccan Majesty is jealous of inde- pendence; and that the Sultan, who has a great idea of re- cementing the Mahommedan world, would run some risk to be acknowledged as Khalif throughout Africa. It is certain that the moment the heat is passed the French Government must take very decided steps, even at the risk of reopening the Eastern Question. It is impossible for it, if only in view of the excite- ment in the Army, to allow itself to be defeated either in Algeria or Tunis, where, moreover, annexation is becoming in- evitable. The whole Regency is going back to anarchy, the Bey reigning only in one or two towns, and these, Tunis excepted, are threatened by the clans of the interior.
