That reference to Morocco in the Daily Chronicle's sketch of
the secret treaty is exceedingly significant. We have for some time seen reason to believe that of all the many ques- tions before Europe none is more delicate than that of Morocco. The statesmen of France are at heart doubtful about tropical colonies, which bring their country little, even in the way of trade, and many of them, M. Hanotaux for one, were most reluctant to undertake the conquest of Madagascar. They are not even proud of Tonquin, which costs, and will cost, a great deal too much, but they believe that if they owned the southern shore of the Mediterranean, from Mogador to Barca, they could in that magnificent expanse create slowly a new India visible from Paris, accessible to their con- scripts, and defensible by their Mediterranean fleet. They are ready, therefore, to fight for it. Germany, on the other hand, to establish on one more frontier a Power hostile to France, supports the Spanish claim ; while the English
experts warn their Government that whatever happens Tangier must not be surrendered to a Great Power lest the Mediterranean should become a closed sea. There are the materials in these wishes and arguments of a most dangerous quarrel, and the result is that the ancient granary of Rome, a vast region which is properly part of Europe, is abandoned to the worst Government but one known in the world. His Shereefian Majesty does not, we believe, give up his own subjects to massacre while they pay their taxes.
