New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-06
GERMANY FOR OPEN DOOR
HER POLICY IN MOROCCO.
Stands Firmly for Protection of Al
Nations Trade Interests.

Washington, April 5.-Germany has outlined
to the United States in clear and emphatic
terms the position taken by the Berlin govern
ment in regard to Morocco. On the receipt of
instructions this morning from Berlin, Baron
Won Sternburg, the German Ambassador, called
at the War Department on Secretary Taft, who
has been designated by the President as the
Cabinet officer with whom the Ambassadors
should confer. and, in the name of the German
Emperor, left with the Secretary brief memo
randum setting forth the Moroccan policy which
Germany has all along pursued and from which
she does not propose to be swerved In sub
stance the memorandum, which is framed in the
most explicit language, announces that:
Germany stands for the open door in Mo-
rocco no less firmly than in the Far East for
the preservation of the Moroccan status quo and
for the safeguarding and protection Of the COM
mereiaI and trade interests in Morocco, not only
of Germany, but of all the trading nations OF
the world.
After presenting the memorandum the Secre-
tary and the Ambassador had brief conver-
sation on the subject of Morocco. Baron von
sternburg calling attention to the commercial
importance Of that country to the trading ma
tions and emphasizing the international i'm
portance, in Germany's opinion, of the preserva-
tion there of the open door. The Secretary
thanked the Ambassador for his explicit state
ment Of the German policy and promptly for
warded the memorandum to President Roose-
velt
Secretary Taft while expressing great inter
est In the Emperor's views, refrained from COM
mitting this government on the subject. nor did
the Ambassador in any way endeavor to sound
him as to the Presidents attitude. There is no
request in the German note for statement of
the Washington governments position, and one
reason for its presentation to-day was the cir
cuation in Europe of sensational reports about
the German Emperor's visit to Tangier and the
German attitude toward Morocco.
GERMANY's ATTITUDE TO FRANCE.
Although France is not mentioned in the MEM
orandum, it be said that Germany regrets
that she was not officially advised Of the new po-
sition in Morocco contemplated by Great Britain
and France which was later disclosed in the
treaty signed last spring by which the London
government deferred to the superior interest Of
France in Morocco Germany holds that her in
terests in Morocco are in every respect equal to
those of Great, Britain. and the establishment
by any power there of special sphere of inhu-
ence would be deplored in Berlin.
Regarding the Emperors visit to Tangier, al
though 1t was in the line OF his cruise in the
Mediterranean, the object Of his address was, it
can be said on high authority. to impress the
MOroccanS with the seriousness or Germany s
desire that the status quo should be maintained
and that the principle of the open door. laid
down by Secretary Hay with reference to China,
should be strictly adhered to in Morocco
] In diplomatic circles the significance of Ger
1nany's frank avowal at Washington Of her
| views about Morocco is not underestimated, and
the incident has attracted all the more attention
| because of it's occurrence on the day on which
the Washington government officially disclosed
the part taken by Emperor William in the ex-
changes of the powers last year regarding Chi
nese neutrality in the Far Eastern war. Some
diplomats believe the object Of the German rep
reservations at this time is to evoke from Wash
! ington a similar avowal of adherence to the open
door policy in Morocco.
Although Secretary Taft was not so informed,
nor does the memorandum indicate it. it is be-
lieved here that a similar statement of Ger
manys views may have been addressed to st.
Petersburg and Madrid.
No Official statement of the German position
is obtainable at the German Embassy here. In
view of the fact that President Roosevelt has
scarcely had the time to consider the memo
|