The sitting of the Moroccan Conference on Monday was mainly
occupied with the discussion of the Report of the Committee appointed to draft regulations for the prevention of the contraband traffic in arms. Out of the articles of the draft Report, five were approved, dealing with such matters as prohibition, limitation of arms imported by a single person, sale, Government imports, and the import by foreigners of sporting weapons. In the course of the debate a significant remark was made by the German representative, Count von. Tattenbach. It was proposed to regulate retail shops for the sale of arms in towns by a firman of the Sultan, issued on the recommendation of the diplomatic body at Tangier. Sir Arthur Nicolson proposed to insert the word "unanimous," on the ground that so grave a departure could not be surrounded by too many safeguards. Count von Tattenbach objected, saying that if it was really intended to introduce a serious reform it was impossible to place the power of obstruc- tion in the hands of a single country. This is precisely the view which France has always urged respecting her claim to be entrusted with Moroccan reform, and such an admission by the German delegate seems to point to a welcome change of policy on the part of Germany.
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