The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-19
CONFERENCE MEETS TODAY
There is e. Under Current of Feeling
That a Supreme Diplomatic Strug-
gle is Imminent-Both France and
Germany are Expecting the Support
OF the United States-Ambassador
White Arrives and He Was Given II
sion for Organization Will be Held
Today.

Algeclras, January 15.-6:15 Z. NJ
The opening of the international con-
fcrence on Moroccan re.rims has def
n1tely been fixed for 5 o'clock tomor-
row afternoon. The Duke of Al uodo-
var, the Spanish minister of foreign
tffairs, took the initiative soon after
IRVING here today, in arranging plans
or the beginning of the deliberations.
Ill the delegates had arrived during
he day, n each found a note from
he duke advising that a preliminary
'esslon for the purpose of organization
would taAe place 81 ; o'cIn>k tomor-
oW. 1t IS expected that the duke will
preside, n VIII make a brief address
IL welcome, after which doubtless he
Will be chosen as the pecnaicat pre-
siding officer.
Interesting features This afternoon
were the landing Of Ambassador White,
the American delegate, from the
American protected cruiser Galveston
anG later the arrival of Samuel R..
Gl,lmere minister to Morocco, the
second American delegate, from Tat-
ger on the French cruiser Galilee. The
Galveston fred a salute of q guns IS
she dropped anchor off he pier. The
spanish cruisers sid not resp..nd
promptly. 1u' the land batteries r)ar-
ed an Answering salute.
The ambassador entered one of the
GalvestCn's launches ga the lat-.r
took a course, G: { Ing the Spanish
cruiser Riu De La Plata, the sailors
IF which ann tn. yards and cave
nearly cheers to thc american 1e:c-
gate. /: is a siLs U]ar fact that the
Rio de la Plata vas presented to
Spain BY South American countl les
after tlle C~es::Gcrion OF the Spanish
dsat in the war With the United States.
The American laLnrb then circled the
Spanish cruiser Ma ina de la Molina,
he sailors of which also cheered Mr..
White and his cOi1pai7cns.
AS !he delegates assemble there is
no outward evidence of tension but on
thu contrary there is a notable OK
change of amenities between the Ger
n,an-FrCnch ce'Cs alton. There is, how
ever, an u~n3ercurrent of sentiment
thar a supreme diplomatic struggle IS
Imminent. with Elance and Germany
occupying the ceEte: and h other
powers ranged i: carrying degrees
around them.
The French count upon Great Brit
ain, Spain, Italy and Russia as size
and c0nSi,'er that the ties between Tie
Uated States and Fence and Great
Britain warrant them in expecting the
SUPPORT of the anti IAN delegates. On
tia other hand, the prevailing sentl-
mert is that Gerlhany can count On
Austria. Holland and Sweden, and per-
haps on Denmark, with Germany also
expecting that the United States will
support some of her contentious.
Now that the delegates are here, the
scene before them is suggestive. Plain
ly visible three miles away rises the
gigantic rock of Gibraltar, like a lion,
guarding the straits, while dimly out
lined to the southwark are the low
mountains of Africa. Algeciras lies
in the center of this panorama. Thus
the powers of the world are gathered
at the Southernmost point of Europe,
and their longing looks toward Africa
give the keynote TO the meeting about
to begin.
London, January 1.-THE Associated
Press is advised that Ambassador
White, representing the United States
at the Moroccan conference at Alge-
ciras, will support the German con-
tention both as to the open door in
Morocco. and as to an International
commission to control the policing of
the country. 1t is suggested that this
makes the adoption of the German
view probable. particularly in the iigh-
of the fact that Russia has shown
marked indifference to the appeal OF
France for support. The influence Of
the Vatican is also understood to be
hocfilo RI Franco