The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-31
4 MONROE DOCTRINE FOR
NORTH AFRICAN STATES
Significant Utterances Of DeIcasse in
the Chamber of Deputies.

The recent exposition by NJ. DeIcasss
of the French foreign policy IN the
chamber caused special emphasis TO be
laid. in the cable dispatches. on his re-
marks about the Venezuelan affair and
the attitude of his country respecting
Macedonia. His utterances, however, in
regard to Morocco barely touched on in
the cable dispatches, are the most sig
nifcant from European point Of view.
The French foreign minister outlined
what Is nothing less than Monroe Doc
trine for the North African states. IN
mildly implying that his government had
no aspirations to possess the Moorish
empire, he stated that the recent rebel
lion in the territory had been quite IS
much surprise to France as it was TO
other nations. The security o. the Al
gerian provinces depended, he pointed
out, on the tranquility and on the inde-
pendence of Morocco, and he added:
The protection Of our interests.
which concerns none but ourselves. is
in accord with the protection Of the in
terests which are common with US and
the civilized world. Morocco, by her
coasts, is situated on the high road OF
the world, and commands it. Whether
her present organization be maintained
or modified, no change must be effected
on the Mediterranean coast OF a nature
to affect the necessary freedom OF the
Straits of Gibraltar For the good of
all. that freedom must remain entire,
and ali should welcome with favor
everything which can guarantees it.
When the first grave check suffered
by the Sultan's troops was known. the .
first thought was for the safety Of the
Europeans who were in the interior Of
Morocco, and during some days there
was an idea of = naval demonstration.
Of what use would it have been7 The
news soon came that the Europeans in
the interior we're in safety. Those 1iy-
ing on the coast were not menaeed.
Moreover, the guns Of cur fleet do not
carry 200 kiIometers. On the other
hand. the presence OF our warships
might have excited Mussulman fanati-
cism- It was. therefore, prudent to be
ready for action. but 70 do nothing 70
compromise the security Of the Eu
ropeans Events have proved the just
ness Of our appropriations.
In concluding his remarks on Mo-
rocco. NJ. DeIeasse said: We have al
ways considered the independence OF
Morocco to be an essential guarantee
for the security e Algeria, and that
any violation of its complete independ-
ence would be a threat against our pos
sessions. Il is nature itself which has
created close solidarity between Mo-
rocco and Algeria. It therefore fol-
lows we could not admit foreign inter
vention in the internal struggles in
which we ourselves. notwithstanding
that solidarity Of interests, have not
interviewed. That absteRtion does not
mean Indifference. How could we re-
main Indifferent in the presence of our
political and economic Interests IN
warning the Sultan against the danger
of innovations, Of which the smallest
defect was the want Of preparation for
them, we thought of the faHaticism
they might provoke in Morocco. and the
effect they might have IN Algeria. and
the sacrifices they might entail on
France. When it was demonstrated
that those appEehensious we're not vain.
we had to shelter Algeria against the
danger. Hence the precautions We took
on the frontier Of Morocco
Without wisa-ng to predict the fu-
ture, I think TIE distur Dances are being
appeased, and that we need do no more.
In any case the situation is very
clear. There can be no isunderstand-
ing concerning our views and determi-
nations, and the chamber can rely on
our vigilance for the defense Of the in
terests conhded to our keeping"