Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1177

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MOROCCO.

(Maghrib-el-Aksa.— El Gharb.) Reigning Sultan.

Mulai Yusef, son of Mulai-Hassan, was proclaimed Sultan on August 18, 1912, on the abdication of his brother, Sultan Mulai-Abd-el-Hafid, who received a lump sum of 400,000 francs and an annual pension of 350,000

francs. • i r

The present Sultan of Morocco — known to his subjects under the title of ' Emir-al-Mumenin,' or Prince of True Believers— is the seventeenth of the dynasty of the Alides, founded by Mulai- Ahmed, and the thirty-sixth lineal descendant of Ali, uncle and son-in-law of the Prophet. His five pre- decessors were : —

Sultan Reign Sultan Reign

Mulai-Abderrahman. 1822-1859 Mulai- Abd- el- Aziz. 1894-1908

Sidi-Mulai-Mohamed. 1859-1873 Mulai-Abd-el-Hafid. 1908-1912

Mulai-Hassan. . 1873-1894

The Sherifian umbrella is hereditary in the family of the Filali Sharifs of Tafilelt. Each Sultan is supposed, prior to death, to indicate the member of the Sherifian family who, according to his conscientious belief, will best replace him. This succession is, however, elective, and all members of the Sherifian family are eligible. Generally the late Sultan's nominee is elected by public acclamation at noonday prayers the Friday after the Sultan's death, as the nominee has probably possession of imperial treasure, and is suj)ported by the bodyguard, from among whom the large majority of court officials are selected.

Government.

The form of government of the Sultanate, or Empire of Morocco, is in reality an absolute despotism, unrestricted by any laws, civil or religious. The Sultan is chief of the State, as well as head of the religion. As spiritual ruler, the Sultan stands quite alone, his authority not being limited, as in Turkey and other countries following the religion of Mahomet, by the ex- pounders of the Koran, the class of ' Ulema, ' under the ' Sheik-ul-Islam. ' The Sultan has six ministers, whom he consults if he deems it prudent to do so ; otherwise they are merely the executive of his unrestricted will. They are the Grand Vizier, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and War, Chief Chamberlain, Chief Treasurer, and Chief Administrator of Customs.

By the Anglo-French Convention of April, 1904, Great Britain recognised that it appertains to France to assist in the administrative, economic, financial, and military reforms in Morocco, but reserves the rights which by treaties or usage she now enjoys. The general agreement was accepted also by Spain in a Franco-Spanish convention. Germany, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement, and a conference of 13 delegates representing Morocco, the European Powers interested, and tlie United