A terrific heat wave greatly interfered last week with the prosecution of the war in Morocco (TIME, May 11, et seq.). Minor engagements were reported in the Spanish sector in the south, but nothing decisive was effected by any engagement. In general, the Riffians continued to dominate Fez* and Taza behind the Wergha River and a new offensive against the former was developing.
At Madrid, Franco-Spanish conversations, inaugurated several weeks ago by French Deputy Louis Malvy (TIME, May 25), came to an end with the signing of two accords: one to begin a land blockade,of the Riff territory, the other a political agreement designed to secure the coordination of aims and policy.
The most important part of the political accord, aside from an agreement not to conclude a separate peace, was the offer of peace terms to Abd-el-Krim, "Sultan" of the Riff State, which are to be presented to him at his capital, Ajdir, by Horacio Echevarrieta, millionaire shipowner who has several times negotiated with the Riff Chief on behalf of his Government. According
to Mr. Malvy, the plenipotentiary of the French Government who returned to Paris from Madrid, Abd-el-Krim is offered autonomy of the Riff area under the nominal sovereignty of Sultan Mulai Yusef, with an agreement to demark the frontiers in such wise as will guarantee the "province" full economic and political security.
"I am naturally afraid," admitted Mr. Malvy, "that Abd-el-Krim has become very difficult to satisfy. People with whom he has surrounded himself since his recent military successes have certainly stimulated him to desire things entirely beyond reason. However, when he becomes apprised of the fact that, among other things he is being offered the fullest possible liberty for commercial development and every reasonable opportunity to utilize to the best advantage the resources of his country, I believe he will think twice before inviting upon himself a real war in which France and Spain will call no halt until a decisive victory shall have been achieved."
General Stanislas Naulin, the recently appointed director of military operations in Morocco (TIME, July 13), was to take up his new duties on July 18. He will be under Marshal Louis Lyautay who, apart from being French Resident General, is Minister of War to the Sultan.
General Naulin is 55 years old and was educated at Saint-Cyr, school founded by Mme. de Maintenant, wife of Louis XIV, and now the West Point of France. As lieutenant and captain, he saw service in Morocco under the famous General d'Amade. At the beginning of the War, he, was a major and was rapidly promoted to be General for his brilliant work. At the last German offensive on Rheims, he had under his command the U. S. "Rainbow Division" (42nd) as well as the 2nd and 36th U. S. Divisions, whom he commended in army orders for their valor, spirit, ardor.
Circumstances forced Premier Painlevé to go before the Chamber of Deputies to ask for a new war credit. "How much do you need?" jeered the Communists. The Government asked for and obtained 183,000,000 francs ($9,150,000) by a vote of 411 to 29, the Socialists abstaining and the Communists alone forming the opposition.