The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-18
SITUATION RELIEVED
FRANCE AND GERMANY NOT LIKE
 LY TO FIGHT.
Strained Relations Over Moroccan Af- fairs Give Promise of Being Handled by Diplomats of
 Two Countries.

 tracted between reports that the two countries were on the eve of war | that would set Europe ablaze and re- l assuring declarations that diplomacy still held a firm grasp upon the situa- | tion.
 Fortunately the situation was much relieved tonight after a long conter- ence between Prince von Radolin, the German Ambassador to France. ana Premier Rouvier which took place at | the foreign office. This distinctly showed that diplomatic intercourse had | not reached a point of rupture. More | over, 1t is known that exchanges pe- tween Prince von Radolin and the | French premier which seemed on the point of breaking yesterday were again brought within normal channels. At the same time alarmist reports had thoroughly aroused public apprehension that grave eventualities are possible If | not imminent.
 The government had not sought to check a full expression by the news papers of their views and this per- mitted that section of the press op- posed to the government to paint the situation in the darkest colors. Not wfthstanding public uneasiness over these reports there is not the slightest evidence that France is profoundly moved or that the people seriously ap- prehend war. None of the exciting scenes that preceded the Franco-Prus- sian war is occurring; there Is no public effervesence. no mob clamor and no indignities to German officials or residents. The conference between Prince von Radloin and Premier Rou- vier appears to have been decisive in restoring a better state of feeling, be- sides re-opening pour parleurs. France at the outset was not disposed to- ac- cept an international conference upon Morocco while Germany was insistant. The effect of this was to create direct | issue as to whether a conference should be held but that issue does not longer seem to be insurmountable. France has shown a disposition to consider the question of a conference If Ger many wil give full assurance that thss does not mean a sacrifice of any right which France has acquired or Of obif- gations incurred by other international agreements concerning Morocco. Tn short, France wants to be assured that the conference project is not designed to limit or discredit the Franco-British. Franco-S Spanish or Franco-1talian agreements so far as they affect Moroc- co. Once assured of these points, 1t Is likely that the chief objections to con ference are removed.
 Inquiry tonight in highest German | | purpose to give every reasonable as- | surance on these points. It was said also that Germany sincerely desires to | avoid the appearance Of placing | France in an embarrassing or humili- ating position and it was added that | this would be made known to Premier | Rouvier in the strongest possible man. ner. Moreover. Germany is ready to remove if possible any apprehension | French officials may entertain that she seeks territorial aggrandizement ir l Morocco or a port upon the Moroccan l coast. The chief point Germany would ask of a conference Is a guarantee that Germany should enjoy an open door te | Morocco and she does not wish to ac- cept this guarantee through an Anglo French entente.
 At the same time Germany scouts the Idea that she demands guarantees 1 that the Anglo French entente is not directed against her.
 It is said that the situation was not helped by the manner of NJ. Delcasse
 when approached on the subject by Prince Radolin. the German Ambassa- dor at Paris. M. Delcasse Is said to
 have replied to the German envoy's in- | quires:
 You will find that information in the | yellow book"
 Germany made no headway at Paris and there is no official authority foI
 the statement that at the time of M | Delcasses resignation the relations be- l tween the two countries were far from
 satisfactory and had already caused l considerable anxiety in London. It ap-
 pears that some sort of proposition
 was made to Germany suggesting tho
 development of her interests in Moroc'
 co along lines which would be accept
 able to France and England. The Ger
 man Emperor. 1t Is said, declined be
 cause what Germany wanted was no
 special privileges in Morocco but thu l open door and a strict adherence tt
 the Madrid convention. Since the Elm
 peror's refusal to participate in an! arrangement involving the establish ment of anything like a sphere of in | fuence in Morocco, the negotiations a
 Paris have not proceeded rapidly. Ger
 many hopes these negotiations ma!
 lead to an understanding with Franc
 so that the two governments may en
 ter a conference with the assuranc
 that the results may be mutually sat
 isfactory to both.
 The idea of France being driven b. Germany is deeply wounding to the ma
 tional pride and Germany has beel
 quick to avert this obstacle by offering
 a solution to the question As the mat
 ter now stands Germany has freed tn proposed international conference iron
 Its possible menacing and humiliatinl
 features and thus presented, France 1
 disposed to consider the proposition. I
 accepted by France the present clou'
 will blow over, for England's opposi
 ton to a conference Is merely t
 strengthen the hand of France and be
 cause England has further polttica
 aims in Morocco. The Temps in it
 leader reflects the official view in say
 ing that England's loyalty to France il
 the Anglo French entente should b.
 equally steadfast in aiding France to
 wards a pacific adjustment of the case
 At least 1t Is accepted in the best poste'
 quarters that Great Britain's objections
 to a conference may be overcome If Ger
 many's assurances snow that the con
 ference is not a menace to the Anglo
 French entente or a cover for far
 reaching German aims.
 It iS noticeable tonight that the jour
 nals refiecting the government senu
 ment take a more hopeful view of pa
 cific view of the situation and strongly
 condemn alarmtst reports. However tho
 Nationalist paper, The Presse, continue:
 to present a sinister view of the situa
 tion iand gives promise to the assem- bling of large military forces on botf
 sides of the frontier.