Suspected French Plans

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Suspected French Plans

Suspected French Plans.—A despatch from Tangier, Morocco, declares that the internal affairs of that country are at a critical stage, and that the absolute overthrow of Sultan Abd-el-Aziz is imminent, and that the authority of France is assuming alarming proportions, aiming at a stupendous empire reaching from Morocco to Timbuctu and Lake Tehad in addition to Senegambia, bringing under her power 30,000,000 of warlike people. With France at the back of these countries, they could place in commission an army of 500,000 fighting men, and give France a monopoly of trade totaling $600,000,000. Now the rebellion against the reigning sultan, and the proclamation of Mulai-el-Hafid has given France the waited-for excuse to make her long-contemplated movement. It is also declared that Italy and Spain are complacent, or will not oppose the scheme. The whole thing has come about because Abd-el-Aziz has been a little too modern, especially in his sports and amusements. These have stirred up against him the orthodox Mohammedans.