GERMAN POLICY IN MOROCCO.
[To THE EDITOR OT THE "SPECTATOR.".] SIR,—My schooldays recollections of Xenophon's "Anabasis," refreshed, it may be, by more recent experiences as an examiner, bring to my mind a curious parallel to the German policy in Morocco. The Greek mercenaries on whom the younger Cyrus relied in his attempt to dispossess his brother of the Persian throne were at the Euphrates. They did not wholly realise their leader's scheme. It was a question whether, when the matter was made plain, they would follow him. Menon the Thessalian, who commanded. a powerful contingent, saw how to make a profit out of the situation. " I can show," he said to his men, " how to make Cyrus your debtor for ever, and that without any risk or trouble. We will cross the Euphrates. If the other Greeks follow us, Cyrus will always remember that we set the example ; we shall get the best things that he has to give. If they refuse, then we can but go back again and no harm will have been done." The German Consul goes to Fez. If the others follow suit, Mulai Hafid will know that "Short is the friend, not Codlin." If the move fails, he will go back again, and it will at any rate be possible to explain away his action.
Previous page
