The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-06
Definition Of the Emperofs A.
titudt is Disclosed TO the
United States
FRANCE NOT MENTIONED
IN BRIEF MEMORANDUM
Frank Avowal BY Germany Is Regard
ed With Extreme Significance In
Diplomatic circles-Informa-
tion Comes to Taft.

Washington April 5.-Germany has out
lined to the United States In clear and
emphatic terms the position claimed by
the Berlin government in Morocco. Upon
the receipt of Instructions this morning
from Berlin Baron Spec Won Sternberg,
the German ambassador. called at the
war department upon Secretary Taft,
whom the President before leaving Wash
ington designated as the chief officer with
whom the ambassadors should confer,
and in the name of the German Emperor
left with the Secretary a brief memoran-
dun setting forth the Moroccan policy.
which Germany has all along pursued
and from which she does not propose 10
be swerved.
In substance the memorandum, which
Is couched In the most explicit language.
announces that Germany stands for the
'.open door, in Morocco no less firmly
than In the far east, for the preserva-
ton of the Moroccan status quo, and
for the safeguarding and protection of
the commercial and trade interests in
Morocco not only of Germany, but of all
the trading nations of the world.
"open Door, Is important.
After presenting the memorandum the
secretary and ambassador had brief
conversation on the subject of Morocco.
Baron Sternberg calling attention TO the
commercial Importance of that country
to the trading nations, and emphasizing
the international Importance, in Ger
manys opinion. of the preservation there
of the open door" The secretary
thanked the ambassador for his explicit
statement of the German policy and
promptly forwarded the memorandum to
President Roosevelt.
In comforting today with Secretary Tart
the German ambassador was acting upon
the suggestion made to him when he
called at the White House last week to
say good-by to the President. The Presl-
dent then took occasion to say TO the
German envoy, as he had said to the 9TH
er ambassadors, that they were to COM
municate with him through Secretary
Taft upon matters warranting his con-
sideration.
Secretary Taft, while expressing inter-
est In the Emperors reviews, refrained
from committing this government 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 today
was the circulation In Europe of sensa-
tional reports about the German Emper-
or's visit to Tangier and the German at
titude toward Morocco.
France is Not Mentioned,
Although France Is not mentioned In the
memorandum, 1t can be stated that Ger
many regrets that she was not officially
advised of the new position In Morocco.
contemplated by Great Britain and
France. which was later disclosed in the
treaty signed last spring. by which the
British government deferred to the supe-
rior interest of France in Morocco. Ger
many holds that her interests in Moroc-
co are I'm every respect equal TO that OF
Great Britain, and the establishment OF
any power there OF a special sphere of
influence would be deplored in Berlin.
Regarding the Emperor's visit to Tan
gier, although ii WAS in the line OF his
cruise In the Mediterranean, the object
os his address was, ii can be stated on
high authority, to Impress the Moroccnns
with that seriousness of Germany's de-
sire that the status quo should be main
tanned, and the principle of the open
door laid down by Secretary Hay with
reference to China. should be strictly ad-
hered to In Morocco.
Incident Attracts Attention.
In diplomatic circles the Significance of
Germanys frank avowal at Washington
of her views about Morocco is not UNDER
estimated. and the incident has attract
ed all the more attention by its occur
renee on the day on which the WASH
ington government officially disclosed the
initial role played by Emperor William
ia the treaty of the powers last year
regarding Chinese neutrality in far east
ern waters. Some diplomats believe the
object of the German representations at
this time is to evoke from Washington n
similar aVowal of adherence TO the open
door" policy in Morocco.
Although Secretary Taft was not so
Informed nor does his memorandum in
dicate II. it Is believed here that similar
statements of Germany's views may have
been addressed also to St. Petersburg
and other powers No statement of the
governments position is obtainable here.
in view of the fact that President Roose-
welt has scarcely had time to consider