Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-16
The Moroccan Situation.

The empire of Morocco an absolute
despotism, has been in a state of tur-
moil for many years past owing to
the natural course of events in a coun-
try unrestricted by any laws, civil or
religious, and also on account of the
steady warfare which the sultan, Mu-
lai-alod- el-Aziz, has had to wage
against the pretenders to the throne.
This caused a feeling of uneasiness
among the Arab Tribes in Algeria,
the adjoining French territory, and led
to efforts on the part Of France to as
sumo guardianship over Morocco,
Germany was not willing to unreserv-
edly agree to this. being second only
to Great Britain in the extent of her
interests in Morocco. In 1902 the inn
ports of the three powers into Moroc-
20 were: Great Britain, $6,210,000:
Germany, s1.s5O,O0O and France $780,
900. The exports of Morocco to the
three powers in 1902 were to Great
Britain $2,a99,OO0: to Germany, $685.
600, and to France $7S5,0O
France, pursuing her Moroccan pol
Icy, sent special mission to Fez last
year Germany and Great Britain did
the same. The German emperor went
still further. He visited Tangier
March 81, 1905, on the Imperial Yacht
Hohenzollern, but remained ashore
barely two hours. During that time,
he made a speech of which several
versions are published. The substance
of his majesty's remarks, however,
was that he assured the German resi-
,fe, hot NV,
rity Of Morocco would be maintained.
The same day the then French minis
ter OF foreign affairs, NJ. Delcasse made
significant speech in the senate at
Paris, during which, after referring to
the sultan's weakness and the anarchy
resulting therefronl. "prejudicial to
everybody and especially to France
and Algeria" he declared tht resist
ance in interested quarters would not
cause France to modify her policy" in
Morocco. This sentiment called forth
vigorous applause.
These utterances aroused both Ger
many and France and caused excite
ment throughout Europe, resulting la
ter in q strained state of affairs and
in the proposition to hold an interna-
tional conference on Morocco.
France and Great Britain April s,
1904, signed an agreement by which
the latter in substance gave France q
free hand in Morocco in return for a
free hand in Egypt and the settlement
of the Newfoundland fisheries dis
putes. Great Britain also agreed to
support France in her Moroccan policy.
But. in the meanwhile, NJ. Delcasse
WaS r0nnnl1ad IN rociop T,,po G 1QnS
after directing the foreign affairs of
Ter Rouvier took the foreign portfolio.
Subsequent developments showed that
the change in the foreign office prob
ably averted war between Germany
and France as the former country was
pressing the latter very severely, Dip
lomatically.
After considerable further fencing be-
tween Germany and France those two
powers on July 8, 1905, agreed on the
basis Of a program for the proposed
international conference and without
entering into details of the reforms
proposed, 1t may be said that the main
and most dangerous point to be dis
cussed at the conference is the ques-
tion whether France is or is not en-
titled to have a special and privileged
position in Morocco. This is the vital
issue and the minor questions, it has
been pointed out, can be adjusted once
this point is definitely settled. Ger
many, it is understood. will seek to
secure international control of the po-
lice, the customs and other matters,
and an "open door" as to commerce.
On December IA the French govern
ment issued a Yellow Book setting
forth its side of the controversy and on
January the German government
published White Book, giving its
version OF the dispute.
Peace in San Domingo.
San Domingo, Jan. 16.-The revolu-
Aaas, a. andad and all ia nufef.