No accurate news has been received of the health of
the Emperor of Morocco, who is said by one set of reporters to be dead, and by another to be slowly recovering. The French, English, Spanish, and Italian Governments have all, however, sent powerful men-of-war into the Moorish ports, and a corps d'armic is said to be gathering on the Algerian frontier. A vast amount of negotiation, or rather intriguing, is also going on, the keynote to which appears to be this. The French Govern- ment ardently desires a Protectorate of Morocco, to be worked through some nominal Sultan, but ardently desires also not to drive the Spanish Monarchy into the arms of the Austro- German alliance. They are, therefore, begging the Spaniards to settle the fate of Morocco by private arrangement with them- selves, alleging that it properly concerns nobody else. The Spaniards, distrusting the French, and unwilling to offend Prince Bismarck, hesitate, and meanwhile Great Britain and Italy argue for the status quo. The situation, if the Sultan dies, may be com- plicated by a massacre of Europeans; but should that calamitynot occur, it is probable that the question will be postponed. That is to say, the Maritime Powers will keep a ring, by protecting the ports, until some Moorish Pretender has slaughtered out enough of his opponents to be able to proclaim himself Emperor of Morocco. The natural heir to the throne is a boy of sixteen, and the heir who, it is expected, will be supported by the Ministry, is a child of five. The tribal chiefs will, however, have much to say in the matter, and so will any Ambassador who may be authorised to spend money.
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