The last few weeks have seen a remarkable recrudescence of
anarchy in Morocco. First there was the raid of the Berber Chief Annus upon Mogador, and now there comes news of a serious riot at Casablanca, a town on the Atlantic coast, where Maelain, a sorcerer from the Sahara, looted a French store, wounded several Europeans, and endeavoured, happily without success, to stir up an anti-Christian rising. Maelain is in the habit of making an annual visit to Fez, since the Sultan is a great believer in his powers ; and, though he makes no secret of his anti-European fanaticism, the Makhzan have made no attempt to restrain him. The plain truth is that in Morocco at present there is no power to curb lawlessness, and the Sultan, with the beat will in the world, has not the means to his hand. With so much inflammable material about, any day may see a serious insurrection and the endangering of all European lives. In these circumstances, we trust that the Franco-Spanish police force which the Algeciras Conference sanctioned will be organised without further delay. The Acts General necessary for the purpose still awaits the ratification of certain signatories, and the French Government itself allowed the Chamber to rise in July without passing the approving Bill. But France, if we may judge from the Press, is now awake to the fact that time is of the essence of the business.
