The Times of Tuesday publishes a most interesting letter from
its Madrid correspondent on the Moroccan question. He asserts that about the end of last summer M. Delcasse submitted to Lord Lansdowne definite proposals for the settlement of the whole Moroccan situation. France was to be allowed a free hand to deal with Moroccan terri- tory except on the North African littoral, and as a set- off would officially recognise the British occupation of Egypt. Lord Lansdowne, it is stated, was disposed to view the pro- position with favour, but asked to be allowed to postpone serious negotiations until South African affairs had ceased to be urgent and the Venezuelan business had been arranged. Unfortunately, the subsequent outbreak of the rebellion in Morocco has placed a new complexion on the matter, and rendered the proposed solution less easy of achievement. The correspondent draws two legitimate deductions from this episode : first, that it affords welcome proof of the increased friendliness of the French Government towards England, and second, that it conclusively disposes Of the attacks on M. Delcasse for neglecting French interests in North Africa. Unhappily, the incident also proves the extraordinary inertness of our Foreign Office. The opportunity was not one to risk losing by delay, considering how often in foreign affairs such good chances do not recur. We may add while on the
subject of Morocco that the Pretender appears to have enffered a defeat, though not one so serious as was at first supposed.
