The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
Tho Tension Between France and
Germany.

According to a telegram from Berlin
which We published lately. the French
reply to tho communication from Chan
cellor Won BtLow with reference to the
Morocco conference will not contribute
to allay the friction between FQnce and
Germany. That the situation is be-
lieved in we'll informed quarters to be
grave may be inferred from the sudden
and unusual decline in the price Of
French Government bonds. In order to
appreciate the difficulty experienced by
the two Powers In arriving at an UNDER
standing, it may be we'll to recall the pre-
ceding phases OF an imbroglio which. it
is no longer possible to deny may lead
| to war.
| 1t is incompatible with the interests
Of France and with her dignity as an in
dependent nation to take part in the con-
ference proposed by the Sultan Of Mo-
rocco, II the relation OF France to that
country, defined az it is in the Anglo
French and Franoo-Spanish conventions,
may be subjected to abrogaton. Those
conventions provided that, while the
rights assured BY Morocco to all the
Powers represented at the Madrid con-
ference in 1880 should remain intact for
thirty years, there should be delegated to
France, as the owner Of Algeria, and
therefore most deeply concerned
supervisory and tutelary function as re-
| CARDS tho maintenance Of order and the
introduction Of internal reforms. Expe-
viop n Tho ~ Z hoao ka- hot
such function almost inevitably leads to
the assumption OF a protectorate. Nor is
it forgotten that, on the pretext OF re-
storing order and introducing admins
trative reform, France invaded Tunis,
and has since practically Incorporated
the Regency in her North African pos
sessions. There can be no doubt that
acquieecence in the ultimate establish
ment of French protectorate over the
Moroccan dominions was the considera-
tion given by Great Britain for the re-
nunciation Of several important claims
on the part of France and for her formal
recognition OF England's tutelary rela-
ton to the Khedive.
Now Emperor WILLIAM H. holds that,
| "HcH WIG TlCuCil ToIcIkH ollI'e, WlInOut
consultation with him, entered into agree
ments with Great Britain and Spain in
reference to Morocco, it was guilty not
only of gross discourtesy to the Berlin
Government, but of positive infringe
ment of the rights assured to Germany
as signatory of the convention con-
cluded in 1880 at Madrid. For that con-
vention gave to Germany the privileges
of the most favored nation, privileges,
so the Berlin Government contends,
which are on their face inconsistent with
the dominant position which the Anglo
French and Franco-Spanish agreements
were calculated to enable France eventu-
ally to assume Even if Russia had
never embarked in the Far Eastern war,
and if, consequently, the Dual Alliance
still seemed formidable, the German EN-
peror could not have suffered the course
pursued by NJ, DELCAssE to pass without
earnest protest. Had he allowed his
country TO be treated with Indifference,
as if she had ceased to figure in the list
OF great European Powers, and as il the
fate Of a region commanding the en-
trance to the Mediterranean could be
settled without regard to his approval,
he might well fear that he would forfeit,
the respect of his allies, and perhaps the
confidence of his own subjects. When
we bear in 9''nd that such view Of the