27 AUGUST 1910, Page 2

Some interesting facts are established by the volume on the

economic situation in Morocco published by M. Charles Rene Leclerc, the representative of the French Morocco Committee at Tangier. While French trade with Morocco has constantly increased since 1902 by way not only of Northern and Southern Algeria and by the Moroccan ports, but also by the Spanish port of Melilla, the percentage of French trade with Morocco is slowly declining as compared with that of the other Powers. At present France has only forty-four per cent. of the world's trade with Morocco, whereas in 1906 she had fifty per cent. Naturally France, in view of her sacrificing in Morocco, cannot be expected to be satisfied with such a state of affairs, though it conclusively proves that French intervention in Morocco is to the interest of all the Powers. It also shows—what so many people are unable to understand—that whatever conditions conduce to the expan- sion of trade with one nation tend to promote its expansion with all. M. Leclerc, we note, does not ascribe France's relative "falling off to unfair competition, but urges French firms to pay more attention to the Moroccan market, to improve their catalogues, send out better agents, and establish more attractive shops in Morocco.