The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-01-18

Negotiations which Have Resulted In
the Present Meeting and the Issues TO
be Presented.
Algeclras. Spain, Jan 1.-THE
Moroccan conference has opened. The
Duke Of Almodovar, the Spanish for
eign minister, delivered the speech Of
Welcome. II was noticed that the
French and British delegates drove to
the conference together. Great ANNA
ton prevailed. The American delega-
ton arrived at the town hall following
the Spanish. French. German and Brit
ish delegations.
Herr Won Radowitz, chief OF the Ger
man mission, proposed the Duke OF
Almodovar as president OF the con-
ference and the other countries rep
resented, including the United States,
seconded the proposal. The Duke OF
Almodovar was unanimously elected
president and the conference ad-
journed at 1855 p. m. until Wednes-
day.
Ambassador White was most salts
fed with the result Of the meeting az
the Duke of Almodovar emphasized
the necessity for the independence OF
Morocco and the open door In which
he was Immediately and strongly sec
onded by the Frenchand German dele
gates.
On the eve Of the Moroccan coefer-
ence It It is we'll 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 IS last. M. Rouvier, for
France and Prince Radolin for Ger
many reached an agreement on the ex-
act programme of the conference. This
programme Is quite short as It was part
of Rouviers skilful diplomacy to bring
the conference within the closest pos
sible limits. The programme agreed
upon was as follows:
The two governments are In accord
in proposing to the sultan the follow
ing programme:
Reorganization, by international
accord, Of the police, except on the
Algerian frontier.
"2-Surveillance and repression OF
contraband arms, except along the AL
gerian frontier.
"3-Financial reforms, with the Gre
alton Of a state bank, with the privi-
leges Of issuing currency.
u "4-Study of the customs, and new
means Of raising revenues"
The agreement contains some other
minor features, but the foregoing arc
the essential questions to be presented
to the Morocco conference.
i France throughout the controversy
and up to the opening Of the confer
ence has maintained that she had q
special or privileged position in Mo-
rocco. That is the vital question about
to be considered, for the questions Of
contraband and customs are largely
detail II the special position Of France
Is recognized then the coming confer
ence will turn over to France the or
ganization of the police and military,
and the surveilla nce of contraband. In
short all of the questions involved
hinge upon tie main question as to
whether the special position Of France
Is to be clearly recognized by the fore
going agreements Germany mas recog-
nized the need Of some outside super
vision over Morocco. It remains to
decide who will exercise this super
vision, in which she and all other
powers shall take equal part, some
thing like the International admins
tration Of Macedonia and Crete. On
the other hand, France consistently up
holds her special and paramount right.
based on geographical position, to
safeguard the future of Morocco. act
ing thus as the virtual trustee for the
nations.
The issues before the conference are,
therefore, comparatively simple, first,
shall France be charged with the
necessary reforms for Morocco; and,
second, the detailed consideration OF
these various reforms relating to I'm
ances, police, customs and contraband.