Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1906-02-22
MAY BE COMPROMISE.
MIDDLE GROUND LIKELY IN
MOROCCAN. CONFERENCE.
france and Germany May Not Agree
on Vital Questions-Hitch Over
Police for the SuItan-Grave Stu
atAon Has Confronted Delegates.

The Algeciras conference on Moroc-
can aHalrs has now been freed of most
OF tile minor questions before it, and
hnds itself fast approaching the graver
situation which heretofore caused the
serious strain in the relations be-
tween France and Germany. This is
sue, a press dispatch says, hinges on
who shall control the affairs Of Moroc-
co, as it appears to be recognized that
whoever controls this semi-military Or
ganization will control Morocco itself.
The delegates to the conference have
shown increasing anxiety at the ap-
proach Of this issue, knowing the in
tense feeling it has aroused between
France and Germany, and according
iy the representatives of the disinter
ested powers are redoubling their eff
forts to secure an accord before the
question reaches the open conference
and thereby avert deadlock Vari-
GUS plans are being discussed. The
ambassadors say they are hopeful that
a middle ground will be found that
will be acceptable to both countries;
but they admit the extreme difficulty
Of finding such ground owing to the
frmnesS both France and Germany
thus far have made against making
concessions which each country feels
will involve the fate of Morocco. On
the one hand France wants control of
the semi-military force, and on the
other hand Germany objects to such
control on the ground that it would
make France the virtual master of
MorOcco's political future. These posi-
tons are SO radically opposed as to ap-
pear almost irreconcilable, yet the neu-
trail delegates are continuing their pa
cific offices toward finding a common
Some Compromise Plans.
The ambassadors strongly oppose
the disclosure of the various tentative
plans for compromise, saying that
publicity tends to excite the opposition
of one side or the other and wreck the
best efforts of diplomacy. However,
some Of the compromise projects are
on the following general lines:
The first is to leave the police to the
Sultan of Morocco, thus avoiding Ger
and that of France to international
control
This compromise is distasteful to
France, but the neutral delegates are
seeking to reconcile French opposition
to it, by pointing out that the Sultan
would have to rely upon France to
officer. instruct, and discipline the po-
lice.
Another compromise vaguely put |
forward is to give Spain Or some other |
of the powers a share with France in |
the organization of the police. This |
again meets with the opposition to |
having France participate in any con-
troll of the police.
Still another compromise, apparent |
ly having the approval Of Germany, is
to institute an international police for
a limited and experimental period,
and if the experiment fails, France
will then be in a position to assume
the organization of the police. France,
however, shows no disposition to ac-
cept the plan for an international po-
lice system, even for an experimental
period.
These and other plans will have to
undergo constant revision owing to the
opposition of the various elements.
Nothing as yet has been reduced to
writing, as neither Germany nor
France is prepared to definitely dis
close just how far they are willing to
20 in the way of concessions