Moroccan War Resumed

The Franco-Spanish peace negotiations with the Riffian Foreign Wazir (Minister), Si Mohammed Azarkhan (TIME, May 10), were abruptly terminated last week when the Riffian Sultan, Mohammed Ben Abd-El-Krim, rejected a 48-hour Franco-Spanish ultimatum which demanded that he and his people acknowledge the sovereignty of the Franco-Spanish puppet Sultan of Morocco, Mulai Yusef, who resides at Fez.

Wazir Azarkhan dramatically informed the Franco-Spanish plenipotentiaries that Krim will continue to defy them, crying: "I am glad and happy of it! ... There is no justice in this world; I go back to resume command of my men!"

General Simon replied quietly in behalf of France and Spain:

"We take cognizance of the Riffian delegates' declarations and state officially that the peace pour-parlers are ended and that a state of war exists."

A few hours later, the so-called "Moroccan War" (TIME, May 11, 1925, et seq.) was again proceeding in desultory fashion. French aviators flew over Riffian mud-hovels dropping expensive bombs. French infantry advanced in the region of Kert conjointly with Spanish troops which moved upon Azib de Midar.

To all appearances the excessively freedom-loving Riffi, each of whom is accustomed to guard his personal freedom with his own rifle, cannot be made to covet the blessings which might or might not flow in Morocco under a Franco-Spanish administration.