Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14
THE MOROCCAN STATUS
SOMETHING ABOUT THE EMPIRE
NOW IN DISPUTE.
The Relations of France and Great
Britain-Germany's Attitude-Ex-
ports of the Countries.

n any years past, owing; to the natural
course of events in a country unrestricted
! by any laws. civil or religious, and also on
| account of the steady warfare which the
| sultan. Mulai Adbel-Azz has had TO wbge
| against the pretenders to the throne This
caused feeling of uneasiness among the
Arab tribes In Algeria, the adjoining
French territory, and led to efforts on the
part of France to assume a guardianship
| over Morocco. Germany was not willing to
| undeservedly agree to this being second
| only to Great Britain in the extent OF her
interests in Morocco.
In 1902 the imports of the three powers
into Morocco were: Great Britain. $6.2i0.-
OO0; Germany, Sl,SJ0.UnO and France S3S0.-
COO. The exports OF Morocco 10 the three
powers In 1902 Were: To Great Britain,
| $4,000; to Germany, sos, 200 and to
France, S7S5OO0
Special Missions tc Morocco.
France, pursuing her Moroccan policy,
sent a special mission to Fee last year.
Germany and Great Britain did the same.
The German emperor went stu further He
visited Tangier March 81 1893, on the inn
perial yacht HohenzolIern, but remained
ashore barely two hours. During that time
ne made a speech, Of which several YER
sions We're published.
The substance Of his maiesty's remarks.
however, was that he assured the German
residents that the sovereignty and integ-
rity of Morocco would he maintained The
same day the then French minister of for
elSn affairs, Nj. DelcasSe. made a significant
speech in the senate at Paris during which,
after referring to the sultan's weakness
and the anarchy resulting tberefrom, pre-
judicial to everybody and especially to
France and Algeria" he declared that
resistance in interested quarters would not
cause France to modify her policy in Mo
rocco. This sentiment called forth vigorous
applause.
Germany and France Aroused.
These utterances aroused both Germany
and France and caused excitement through
out Europe, resulting later in strained
state of affairs and in a proposition to hold
an international conference on Morocco.
France and Great Britain, April 5. 1904,
signed an agreement by which the latter in
substance gave France a free hand in Mo-
rocco in return for a free hand In Egypt
and the settlement of the Newfoundland
fisheries disputes Great Britain also agree
Ing TO support France in her Moroccan
policy.
But in the meanwhile NJ Delcasse was
compelled to resign, June g. 1905, after d.
rectng the foreign affairs of France since
June %. 1898; and Premier Rouvfer took
the foreign portfolio Subsequent develop
ments showed that the change in the for
eign office probably averted war between
Germany and France, as the former coun-
try was pressing the latter very severely
automatically.
Agreed on Program for Conference.
After considerable further fencing be-
tween Germany and France those two pow
ers. on July 8, 1865, agreed on the basis
of a program for the proposed internation-
al conference, and, without entering into
details of the reforms proposed, It may he
said that the main and most dangerous
point to be discussed al the conference is
the question whether France is or is not
entitled to have special and privileged po-
sition in Morocco.
This is the vital issue and the minor
questions it has been pointed out, can be
adjusted once this point is definitely set
tied Germany, it is understood, will seek
TO secure International control of the police,
the customs and other matters and an
open door" as to commerce.
On December il the French government
issued Yellow Book setting forth its sids
OF the controversy, and on January 8 the
German government published White
Book giving its version of the dispute.
The Attitude of the United States.
AS the date for the assembling of the
Morocco conference draws near and the
probable far-reaching results of the gather
ing upon the future political history of the
entire continent of Africa becomes more
and more apparent renewed interest is be-
Ing exhibited not only in this country, but
in Europe, in the exact nature OF the in
structions which will govern the United
Efforts have been made in Congress to
secure information upon that point through
the ordinary method Of resolutions of in
quiry, but so far without success The vari-
Gus embassies and legations here have also
been diligently at work endeavoring TO
sound the State Department, and even
social influences have been brought into
play to develop the plans of this govern
ment in relation to Morocco. The only re-
suit of these efforts far has been the
transmission to the European capitals of a
number of reports so contradictory in their
principal features as to Stamp them at once
as purely conjectural.
Officially it has been stated that generally
speaking the position of the United States
delegates Will be one of strict neutrality
as between the two great principals in the
Moroccan question. France and Germany.
but more specific information IS not given.
But there is reason to believe that while
the instructions may be to that effect In the
letter yet In spirit the American delegates
really incline toward the French contention.
There is no question of sentiment about
that either, but rather selfish considera-
ton for the interests of the United States
For reasons heretofore stated, connected
with the ancient treaty relations between
the United States and Morocco and various
trade considerations, the President could not
decline, at least thought, the invita-
ton of the European powers to participate
in the Morocco conference. But there were
good reasons for making the connection of
the United States with the political affairs
of Morocco as short and inconsequential as
possible ABOVE all Things II WAS
az desirable that the American delegates
should not commit their country to any per-
manent engagements or alliances with other
powers that might be embarrassing in the
future.
French Plan Most Agreeable.
So when the two propositions which are
expected to be the test pieces in the con-
ference were scrutiniZed 1t was found that
the French plan more nearly met our de-
sireS. In brief that amounted to the estab-
lishment of a French protectorate over
Morocco, although the arrangement pro-
posed was not named. The open door
was to be afforded to international trade,
but in Moroccan internal affairs, France
would dominate; she would see that the
lives and properties of foreigners in the
country were safe, would look after the
finances OF the country and while main
tanning the semblance of an autonomous
government, would really dictate the sui
tans policies.
On the other hand the German PROPOSE
ton contemplated the establishment of in
-ternational control over Morocco, leaving
the sultan on his throne, but requiring him
to carry out the directions of the powers
and providing for international gem