which he had drawn up to this end, he must declare that his government desired to maintain the independence of the Sultan of Morocco, as well as his authority in his own proper territory, and that it (Great Britain) wished that he be liberated from the abuses of foreign protection. He then submitted for the consideration of the conference the propositions, nine in number, which appear on page 42 as substitutes for Nos. 14, 15, and 16 of the Moroccan demands.

The president observed that he had knowledge of other propositions which had been prepared by the plenipotentiary of Austria, and asked if he wished to present them. The latter replied that the priority of discussion should be given to the British propositions, and that the presentation of his would depend on the reception of those of Mr. West. The plenipotentiary of France stated that the amendment which he had proposed to submit to No. 14 of the Moroccan propositions reproduced the text of the convention of 1863, from which the French Government was unable to depart. He further stated that no treaty limited for France the number of protégés, and that in fixing in 1863 two censanz for each branch house, it had perhaps gone beyond what the interests of French merchants exacted. He declared in conclusion that he was unable to consent that the number of censaur should be reduced. The plenipotentiary of Austria remarked that it was essential to examine, in the first place, if censaux continued to be protected, and if so, in what degree.

The plenipotentiary of France replied that he only intended to discuss the existing fact; that is to say, the situation established by the convention of 1863, which only mentioned censaur protégés.

A long discussion then followed as to the order of procedure, and it was finally decided to discuss the propositions presented by the plenipotentiary of Great Britain.

The plenipotentiary of France then declared that he was ready to discuss the Moroccan demands, but as it had been decided to discuss the propositions presented by England, he must ask the conference to adjourn in order to permit him to make known to his government these new propositions. In view of these declarations the conference adjourned.

SIXTH SESSION.

The conference reassembled on the 6th June, when the plenipotentiary of France spoke at length on the propositions presented by the plenipotentiary of Great Britain. (See protocol 6.) I shall not undertake to give a synopsis of his remarks. It will suffice to say that he declared that his government would not listen to the proposition in question.

The plenipotentiary of Morocco followed the plenipotentiary of France, stating in substance that the propositions presented by the plenipotentiary of Great Britain were acceptable to him, and that they guarded in effect the legitimate interests of commerce. He declared at the same time that he was ready to accept any arrangement which, according the same advantages to native merchants as to foreigu merchants, would assure the most complete protection of foreign commerce, adding that he only protested against personal protection accorded to native courtiers (trading agents), which was the cause of the wrongs from which his country was suffering. The plenipotentiary of Great Britain, in view of the declarations made by the plenipotentiary of France, retired his propositions in order to leave the field free to others.

The president then asked the plenipotentiary of Austria if he intended to present his propositions. The latter replied in the affirmative, but he must say, nevertheless, that his articles, though based on existing treaties and comprised in the convention of 1863, established for the censaux certain protection deemed strictly necessary. He then read his propositions, the complete text of which will be found in annex 1 to protocol 6.

The plenipotentiary of France stated that the articles which had just been read constituted an extenuation of the last demands, but they contained, however, three essential points on which his government could not make concessions, viz, the number of censaux, the limitation of the choice of these agents, and the suppression of consular jurisdiction for the censaux.

The plenipotentiary of Italy asked to present a counter project, equally regulating the situation of censaux, the text of which appears in annex II to protocol 6, whereupon the conference adjourned until the 9th of June.

SEVENTH SESSION.

At the next session (June 9) (see protocol 7), the plenipotentiary of Austria announced that he had prepared new propositions, and that, with a view to reconciling them to those presented by the plenipotentiary of Italy, he had inserted many articles of the latter's project, but that there were two essential points on which it had been impossible to agree with Count Greppi, viz, that agents shall not be arrested except in the case where they may be caught in the commission of the flagrant crime of murder; and, second, that agents must be placed exclusively under consular jurisdiction. Count Ludolf explained at length the reason why he objected to these provisions. Then on the invitation of the president he read his new propositions, which will be found in annex to protocol 7.

The plenipotentiary of Italy, in view of the new propositions presented by the plenipotentiary of Austria, asked permission to substitute another article for No. 4 of his project. This being done, the question arose as to which of the propositions should have priority of discussion, and it was decided that those of Austria should take precedence.

The plenipotentiary of France began the discussion. He stated that it was impossible for him to adhere entirely to the Austrian propositions-that he was willing to accept No. 1, but in No. 2 he must ask the suppression of the words "de préférence." as they established a vague restriction which would only lead to difficulties. As to No. 3 he had already agreed, in principle, that censaur should pay certain determined taxes, provided the right of holding property should be conceded to foreigners; he had nothing to say in regard to No. 4, but he could not in any fashion accept No. 5. In conclusion he stated that France was unable to admit the suppression of protection of censaux, as it would be equivalent to the suppression of her commerce.

The plenipotentiary of Italy supported the observations made by the plenipotentiary of France.

The plenipotentiary of Morocco was of opinion that he should be able to accept the greater part of the new propositions presented by Austria, but he must ask the conference to adjourn in order to permit him to take them into more detailed examination, adding, at the same time, that his instructions prevented him from formally accepting that censaux should be chosen in the country.

The other plenipotentiaries reserving for discussion the different articles, the general discussion closed, and No. 1 of the Austrian propositions was adopted. No. 2 was necessarily reserved in view of the declaration made by the plenipotentiary of Morocco.

EIGHTH SESSION.

The conference re-met on the 12th of June, and after some discussion in regard to article 1 of the Austrian propositions adopted at the last session, the plenipotentiary of Morocco replied at length to certain observations made by the plenipotentiary of France in the session of the 6th of June. He also discussed the propositions presented by the plenipotentiaries of Austria and Italy, and in conclusion presented an amendment to No. 2 of the former's propositions to the effect that agents or censaux should be chosen from the cities on the coast and in the interior, and not from among the inhabitants of the country where the population is submitted, as a reserve, to military service. (Protocol 8.) Exceptions being made to this amendment by the plenipotentiaries of Austria and France, the president asked the plenipotentiary of Morocco if he was disposed to accept article No. 2 of the Austrian project. Sid Mohammed Vargas replied in the negative, adding that he was unable to accept that protection should be extended to censaur chosen in the country.

The plenipotentiary of Morocco then stated that in view of the declarations made by the plenipotentiary of France in regard to the number of censaur, the limitation of the choice of such agents, and the suppression for them of consular jurisdiction, the conference seemed unable to find a remedy to correct the evils which arose under the agreement of 1863. Under these circumstances and for other reasons given by him, Sid Mohammed Vargas declared that he should reserve the right of his sovereign to obtain what he desired through diplomatic means. He further declared that in the mean time the agreement of 1863 should be punctually and scrupulously observed in every particular, and closed his remarks by praying the conference to be good enough to continue the discussion on the other demands, beginning with No. 17.

The president, in view of the gravity of the declaration made by the plenipotentiary of Morocco, proposed that the conference adjourn. The plenipotentiary of France observed that he was not alone in his declarations, that the plenipotentiaries of Austria and Italy demanded, as well as himself, the right to select censaux in the interior. The conference then adjourned subject to the call of the president.

Thus you will see that the conference had come to a dead-lock, and there was no immediate sign of its being broken, as neither the plenipotentiary of France nor of Morocco seemed disposed to concede anything on the part of their respective governments. A general conversation followed the adjournment, on the present state of affairs, when I took occasion to say to Sid Mohammed Vargas that I thought it would be for the interest of Morocco to consent to censaur being selected from the country and governed according to the stipulations of existing treaties and conventions. I said to him frankly, "If you do not concede this point, what will Morocco get? Nothing; while France and the other powers will still have their treaties and conventions, and things will continue as they are to-day." He appeared to appreciate my remarks, but did not seem disposed to give way. From the very first, I did not think that any of the propositions presented would be agreed to, but I had, nevertheless, prepared certain amendments to certain ar

ticles which I proposed to offer in the event of their being discussed. even went so far as to prepare an entire new set of propositions during the time that elapsed between the last meeting and that of the 19th of June, but just as I had finished them I was informed that Morocco had conceded everything demanded by France, and that the selection and government of censaux would be in accordance with the stipulations of the convention of 1863, except as to taxation. Thus my proposed propositions were not needed.

NINTH SESSION.

In view of this concession on the part of Morocco, the president called a meeting of the conference for the 19th of June. (See protocol No. 9) The president stated that the conference had taken a recess since the 12th of June, in order to allow the plenipotentiaries time to exchange ideas on the subject of the important declarations made by the plenipotentiary of Morocco. He then asked Sid Mohammed Vargas if he intended to maintain these declarations. The latter replied that he intended to maintain them in effect, but would propose as a substi tute for Nos. 14, 15, and 16 of the demands presented by him at Tangier, the following article:

Nothing shall change the situation of censaux such as it has been established by treaties and by the convention of 1863, save that which shall be stipulated relative to imposts in the following articles.

In view of this declaration by the plenipotentiary of Morocco, the plenipotentiaries of Austria and Italy withdrew their propositions, and the conference then adopted the article proposed by Sid Mohammed Vargas.

The plenipotentiary of Morocco then asked the conference to be good enough to consider the request made by him at the last meeting in regard to adopting some measure which would put an end to existing abuses contrary to treaties and conventions. The plenipotentiary of France observed that it would be difficult for the conference to make a declaration of this nature, that it properly belonged to the Moroccan Government to denounce, by diplomatic means, to the foreign representatives at Tangier the existing abuses or those which might be practiced in the future. The conference ratified these observations.

The conference then proceeded to discuss No. 17 of the Moroccan demands (see annex 1 to protocol 1), which treats of the payment of imposts by protégés. The plenipotentiary of France stated that his government was willing to consent in principle to the censaux and other protégés paying agricultural taxes, but that it demanded in return the right of foreigners to hold property in Morocco, and that the exercise of this right must be regulated by a special rule between the Government of Morocco and the foreign representatives at Tangier. He then offered as a substitute for No. 17 the article which appears on page 69. The plenipotentiary of Morocco was ready to accept the first part of the proposed article, but as to the second part he must observe that the exercise of this right had never given place to difficulties nor to abuse, and that questions of procedure relative to immovable property had always been regulated by the law of the country; that if the rule demanded was no more than a reproduction of the law, it would be superfluous; if on the other hand it set aside the law, it would be impossible for his government to accept it. He added, in reply to a question of the president, that the right of property was already stipulated in the English and Spanish treaties and recognized by Morocco for all for

eigners, but that immovable property was, and must continue to be, submitted to the national laws, and that he could not accept that it be made the object of a special rule.

The plenipotentiary of France then proposed to modify his article, but it was finally agreed to adopt the article on this subject (see annex 1 to protocol 1,) which had been agreed to at Tangier. This article reads as follows:

The

The right of holding property in Morocco is recognized for all foreigners. plenipotentiaries admit that the purchase of property must be effected with the previous consent of the government, and that the titles to said property must be made out in the form prescribed by the laws of the country, and that any question which may arise on these rights must be decided according to the laws of the country with the appeal stipulated in the treaties; that is to say, to the minister for foreign affairs.

On taking into consideration No. 16, relative to the payment of an agricultural tax by censaur and other protégés, a discussion arose as to how this tax should be regulated. A majority of the plenipotentiaries were of opinion that the conference might establish the principle of equality, and leave it to the representatives at Tangier to regulate the details of application. I suggested that the payment of this impost should be made by foreigners and protégés through the diplomatic and consular representatives. The plenipotentiaries of Germany, France, and Italy, without denying the principle, thought that its application should naturally be reserved to the sanction of the representatives at Tangier. The following article was finally adopted:

Foreigners and protégés, proprietors or tenants of cultivated lands, as well as tensaux given to agriculture, shall pay the agricultural impost. They shall remit each year to their consul an exact statement of what they possess, placing in their hands the amount of the impost. He who shall make a false declaration shall pay a tie double the amount of the impost which he would regularly have paid on the undeclared property. In case of a repetition of the offense said fine shall be doubled. The nature, the mode, and the quota of said impost shall be the object of a special agreement between the representatives of the powers and the minister for foreign affairs of His Sheriffian Majesty.

The conference then adopted an article relative to the payment of gate taxes on beasts of burden, which the representatives at Tangier had declared themselves ready to accept. (See annex 1 to protocol 1.) The following is a translation of the article in question:

Foreigners, protégés, and censaur, owners of beasts of burden, shall pay gate tax The quota and the mode of collection of said tax, common to foreigners and to natives, shall be equally the object of a special agreement between the representatives of the powers and the minister for foreign affairs of His Sheriffian Majesty. The said tax shall not be increased without a new agreement with the representatives of the pow

ers.

The conference then accepted the demand contained in No. 18 of the Moroccan propositions (see annex 1 to protocol 1,) relative to the mediation of interpreters, &c., by adopting the following article:

The mediation of interpreters, native secretaries or soldiers of the different legations or consulates, when in behalf of persons not placed under the protection of the legations or consulates, shall not be admitted unless they are the bearers of a document signed by the chief of mission, or by the consular authority.

I then asked to present propositions regulating the situation of protégés who ceased to be on the lists on account of the revision of Said lists of protection. The conference, reserving these propositions for ulterior deliberation, adjourned.

TENTH SESSION.

The next session of the conference, June 21, was exclusively devoted