The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-26


Special to The Journal
Chicago, March 2e.-John Collan
O'Laughlin, in a,Washington special to
the Chicago Tribune, says:
President Roosevelt, and no one else,
Is responsible for the peaceful result at
last conceded for the Moroccan con-
ference at Algeciras, Spain.
1t is now possible for the first time
to reveal the facts in connection with
American intervention in this delicate
European question, and these show that
for the American republic and achieved
as great a victory as he did when he
terminated the Russo-Japanese war. The
conference will re-assemble either today
or Tuesday at Algeciras, and every in
dication points to its formal acceptance
of the solution which President Roose
welt and Secretary Root have evolved
This solution deals only; with the
force which shall be distributed thru
out Morocco, for the. enforcement Of
law and order and the preservation Of
the integrity of the empire and the
open door. therein. The other questions
before the conference have been settled
already. and American Intervention for
their adjustment happily proved unnec-
essary.
The peaceful outcome of the Algeciras
of eight months labor on the part of
the observation-disclosures as long a time
rs that which was necessary to bring
about conclusion of hostiIities be-
tween Russia and Japan. The latter in
terventlon was more spectacular. There
were armies in the field, and the world
was staggered by the amount of blood
an and tt treasure which was being spilled
which belonged to neither.
Morocco resembled Manchuria in
that it was the prize for which two ma
tlons, France and Germany, have been
contending, tho the latter claims it has
been more unselfish in that it did not
want. the country for itself exclusively,
ploitation by all the nations Of the
world-a claim which France says is
too. absurd on its face to warrant con-
sideration.
America in the Conference.
When Germany first proposed the en-
trance of the United States into the
Algeciras conference, President Roose-
welt hesitated to comply. France did
not want a conference, and Great Brit
ain was supporting the French policy.
The Willingness Of the United States
to participate caused a change in the
decision of Great Britain and France,
resented at the proposed meeting.
The attitude Of the president was in
fuenced partly by the grave possibility
Of war between France and Germany,
and by the effect such war would
have upon his efforts to restore peace
between Russia and Japan. With
Europe engulfed in war, it was not to
be expected that Russia and Japan
would cease hostilities.
Roosevelt Diplomacy.
Attention was called today in this
connection to the fact that President
Roosevelt, in order to induce Russia
and Japan to open negotiations, was
compelled ITO use rare tact and diplo-
macy. To use slang phrase, the presi-
dent was forced at that time "to play
both ends against the middle.'' He
had, too, to use great influence with
both Germany and France to prevent
them from jumping at each other s
threats and to speak in plain manner
power to hold France back.
1t was foregone conclusion that
when the United States said it would
participate in a conference, the confer.
ence would be held. President Roose
welt was diplomatic about this, for he
Sdlu, III d communication which he maze
to the powers, that this government,
would be represented, provided all the
interested powers took part.
Ready to Go to War.
1t was a great point gained, 50 far
as Germany was concerned, but that il
was important the United States should
make such an answer is shown by the
declaration which the German minister
to Morocco made: r.....= 49, Il
emperor William proposes to up
hold the sovereignty and independence
of Morocco
This declaration was accepted at the
time as a clear indication that Germany
would go to war in order to prevent the
absorption of the Moorish empire by
France, Subsequently Germany made
a new declaration to the president
that she regarded the Moroccan cues
ton as of greater Importance than the
Russo-Japanese situation.s r.
The United States naturally wanted
the preservation of the open door in
Morocco. but it had no concern regard
ing the internal affairs of that country
or the European questions connected
: with it.
Continued on I'd Page, 9Th Column.