By early April 1911, the Sultan was besieged in his palace in Fez and the French prepared to send troops to help put down the rebellion under the pretext of protecting European lives and property.
I begyndelsen af april 1911 blev sultanen belejret i sit palads i Fez og de franske var parate til at sende tropper for at nedkæmpe oprøret under påskud af at beskytte europæiske liv og ejendom.