31 OCTOBER 1925, Page 1

As regards Morocco, the well-informed Tangier corre- spondent of the

-Times said in Wednesday's paper that though war had become inevitable when it broke out it might have been avoided if the French had explained their aims during the previous six months. " War arose through unnecessary misunderstandings on both sides." As it is, the correspondent thinks that the French system of making war is unsuited to the country. It is too ponderous. Abd-el-Krim is still able to boast that he has brought about the downfall of one French Marshal and has driven a French army of 160,000 men into. 'winter quarters where their health will cause much anxiety. Then, again, the correspondent points out that the French and Spanish methods of dealing with the tribesmen are different and that owing to the forriaal collaboration between the two PowerS France is saddled with the responsibility for reprisals and treatment of prisoners of which she actually disapproves. His general conclusion is ours—that an immediate attempt should be made to arrive at peace. He says, frankly, that no really serious effort towards peace has been made so far either by France or Spain.