Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-13

i : ~ 81
hold Of the situation In Morocco and
regulate it. Americans will recall that
the government at Washington found
1t necessary last fall to send a eformid-
able squadron to the Moroccan coast
to demand the ransom and release of
naturalized American who had
been kidnapped by Moroccan bandits;
and the governments that are nearer
to Morocco have had no end of similar
troubles. But 1t happens that France,
which possesses the colony of Algeria,
just to the east of Morocco, is the one
which has had the largest amount of
grief; and the consequence has been
that the governments of France and
Great Britain a few weeks ago reached
an agreement that France should as
sist Morocco, perhaps somewhat after
the fashion that President Roosevelt
has been trying to get the approval of
the senate for his assisting people and
things in San Domingo
For this arrangement the assent Of
Spain and perhaps some Of other
neighboring nations was secured: but
1t was not assumed to be necessary
to say anything to Germany about the
matter. This omission has not been
satisfactory to the German administra-
ton, and SO Kaiser Wilhelm, who is
OF for cruise of the Mediterranean,
took occasion about week ago to
stop off for few hours at Tangier,
the Moroccan capital and make call
on the sultan. The situation was
somewhat mixed, and even the kaiser's
life was not regarded as altogether
secure. Sc he cut his visit short of
the advertised schedule, but he re-
NAMED long enough to make decla-
ration that there is no preponderating
influence in Morocco; that Germany
must enjoy the same rights there as
other powers, and that the sove-
reignty Of Morocco must be main
tanned.
Immediately following this declara-
tion the head Of the French ministry
took occasion to explain in the chamber
of deputies that 1t is the task OF France
to open Morocco to civilization, but
that from an economic point of view
all nations have an equal footing there
subsequently the German ambassador
at Washington left with our govern
ment a memorandum to the effect that
Germany stands for the open door in
Morocco as well as in the east; and
Germany has evidently undertaken
with such help as she may get from
the United States, to make Morocco
the text Of an international under
standing upon a good many matters
OF interest and commerce. 1t being
perfectly understood that the only sort
OF an understanding to which the Unit
led States would be in any way party
is one for equal trade opportunity for
all neutral nations, the manifest at
tempt Of Germany to secure In this
matter the cooperation of the United
States Is even more significant than is
the kaiser's speech at Tangier.
The situation that has developed
since the opening of the Russo Japan
csc war shows very plainly the re-
markable change of sentiment the Eu-
ropean nations have experienced with
regard to the United States. Ten
years ago, soon after the close of the
war between Japan and China, Russia
Germany and France entered into an
agreement which provided for an ap-
portioning of trade in Manchuria and
China to the exclusion of other ma
lions. America, when she began to
nave a voice in eastern matters, be-
gan at once to insist upon an open
door policy in the orient and this has
been the point to her argument all
along. Now, with Russia out of the
way because of her inability to cope
with Japan in battle, France seeks
England's permission to control affairs
in Morocco and Germany, fearing lest
it be left out in the cold by such an
arrangement, makes overtures to the
American government to secure this
governments cooperation in establish
ing the open door throughout the
world.