The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-17


 mediately and strongly seconded by the
 French and German delegates.
 Arrangement Is Significant. The table at which the delegates will sit extends the entire length of the hall The arrangements of the positions of the delegates is somewhat significant. The presiding officer will sit midway in a large leather chair. Immediately on the
 presidents right will be the Germans, Herr von Radowitz ambassador to Spain and Count von Tattenbach, minister to Portugal. Then will come the two Bel gians, separating the Germans from the French delegates headed by M Revert.
 chief of the French mission. At the pres ident's left will be the Austrian and American ambassador, White, and Min ister Gummere. The United States will thus be fanked by Austria on the right
 and Portugal on the left The plan follow
 ed In seating the delegates are the al- phabetic order of the countries with modi- fications for convenience
 There are two large religious pictures in the hall, one at each end and cleo
 tric lights and typewriters give the place an appearance of being supplied with
 modern convenences. The President s private room is handsomely furnished, and hung with paintings, including por- trait of King Alfonso. The American
 and other delegations have been allotted private conference rooms. Herr von
 Radowitz, in the course of a conver- sation with correspondent of the As
 sociated Press, today expressed strong conciliatory views. He said: "All allusion to war is merely phantas- magoric."
 Principal Issues Involved.
 On the eve of the Moroccan conference it is well to define the essential issues presented, as these will clearly indicate the general scope of the meeting and the chief danger of the issues involved. On September 2S last M Rouvier, for
 France and Prince Randolin, for Ger many, reached an agreement on the ex-
 act programme of the conference. This programme is quite short as 1t was part of Rouvier's sl<illful diplomacy to bring the conference within the closest possible limits. The programme agreed upon was as follows:
 "'rhe two governments are in accord in proposing to the Sultan the following programme:
 l. Organization by international accord
 Of the police, except on the Algerian frontier.
 70. Surveillance and repression of con
 traband arms, except along the Algerian frontier.
 'S Financial reforms, with the creation of state bank, with the privileges of issuing currency.
 A. Study of the customs and new means of raising of revenues.
 The agreement contains some other minor features but the foregoing are the essential questions to be presented to the Moroccan conference.
 Claims Privileged Position. France throughout the controversy and up to the opening of the conference has
 it.ta fyaA hot laad al rss-fts ileged position in Morocco. That Is the vital question about to be considered, for the questions of contraband and cus- toms are largely detail. If the special position of France is recognized, then the coming conference will turn over to France the organization of the police and the military and the surveillance of con- traband. In short, all of the questions
 involved hinge upon the main question as to whether the special position of France Is to be clearly recognized. By the foregoing agreement, Germany has