New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
FROM FAsHoDA TO T4yG5ER

France has twice in recent years met with
checks in the realization of her dreams Of en-
pire IN Africa. The first check came in 1895
when, after having concluded an agreement
with Germany I'm the previous year in regard
TO the French Congo and the GabOon district
she endeavOred TO carry her policy Of peace
ful penetration" eastward and secure a foot
ing on the Nile. Captain Marchand made his
famous march, and the worlds diplomacy for
a brief time centred about Fashoda, 1t was
England that called check upon that move, and
the later disappearance of the name FashOda
from the map Of Africa closed the incident By
a curious coincidence this time the situation
is reversed, and the second check comes from
Germany after the conclusion Of pact with
England. For nearly a year after the Anglo
French agreement Of April s, 1904, acquiesced
in by Spain last October, Germany, unconsulted
in the matter, remained silent Then came the
ChaneelIor's speech and later the visit of EN-
perOr William TO Tanger, with the result that
once more the Moroccan situation disturbs the
chancelleries Of Europe.
Even the speech of Emperor William at Tan
gler, however, has not caused France to relin-
quish her dream of African colonial en-
pire stretching from the Soudan to the Medi-
terranean and to the Atlantic, giving her the
greatest area under foreign rule in the Dark
Continent Emperor Williams declaration as to
Z
have been meant simply TO give notice TO all
concerned that Germany as an African power
must not be ignored in any agreement looking
TO the partition Of that continent or 1t may
have been intended merely to guard Germany's
commercial interests by maintenance of the
open door, or a notification to both England
and France that Germany may insist upon
quid pro quo Whatever its signification, it has
huttered the Cabinets Of Europe, and for the
the Far East 1t is true that Germany has not
heretofore been considered a Mediterranean
power, and therefore England. France Spain
and Italy might assume, and did assume that
her consent was not necessary TO any agree
ment they might make as to Morocco. This
fact Of course will make explanations easier,
but if Germany stands by her announced deter
mination in regard to Morocco the situation
may become awkward.
France has not yet wholly committed her.
self as TO her purposes in Morocco, and has
taken no steps from which she might not diplo-
matically retreat, II necessary, with honor.
Still, from the facts as known and from the re-
ports as TO the attitude OF the French govern.
ment, there is reason to believe France has set
her heart upon building up an empire to which
French dominance in Morocco is as necessary
| as England's occupation Of Egypt is to her
African ambitions and her Asiatic empire.
Though Salisbury once in the Fashoda days
derided Frances African empire as consisting
| largely Of sand, there are possibilities connect
ed with il, especially in Morocco, that appeal
strongly TO the French love Of glory. The
| French imagination has been kindled with the
| thought Of a vast colonial empire, and Africa
remains the only continent upon which that
dream can be realized, recent events in the
| Far East have shown that European hopes OF
domination IN that quarter Of the globe viii have
! to be relinquished Africa, however, presents
/ no such difficulties With Algiers, Tunis and
Morocco linked with the French Congo by rail
! roads and telegraph, and with the seaports of
sunset Land" at her command. France would