Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-17
OUR MOROCCAN POLICY
PART TO BE TAKEN IN THE AL
GEcIRAs CONFERENCE.
Substance Of the Instructions to the
American Delegates-A Square
Deal' for ALI the Keynote.

What part will be played by the United
States government in the Moroccan confer
ence convened at Algeciras is ~ set
forth in the instructions prepared by Sec
rotary Root for the American delegates,
Mr.. White, United States ambassador at
Rome, and Mr.. Gummere, United States
minister at Tangier. These instructions
included in a compilation of CORES pondence
relative to the Moroccan conference pre-
pared at the Department of State for the
information and guidance of the American
delegates.
In placing the confidential imprimata
these instructions it is explained that the
department is following a time honored
custom which antedates even the initiation
of that policy in the pursuance of which
this government consented to participate in
the conference. That policy dates back to
1886, in which year the United States, with
other countries, entered into treaty rela-
tons with Morocco BY that treaty the
United States government shares with
other powers certain privileges, among
them that attaching to the most favored
ma ton treatment.
Based on Our Treaty Rights.
At the outset of his letter of instructions
the Secretary announces that the partlc-
patton of the United States in this confer
ence is based exclusively upon it's treaty
rights with Morocco, a Encouragement of
which is now proposed by the sultan, who
has extended invitations to the United
States and other powers signatory to the
treaty of 1880 to join in a conference to
discuss the manner for suitable reforms
which the sultan has decided to Introduce
in his empire.
BY the treaty of 1880 it is pointed out
that this government is pledged the right
OF protection of a special class of native
Moors. Further than this the treaty rights
o. this government, it is declared, are con-
fined to an equal share in whatever priVf-
leges of commerce and protection or resi-
dence may be enjoyed by other foreigners.
AS has been repeatedly announced by the
department the attitude of TINS government
toward the politics of Morocco is clearly
laid down in the instructions to its dele
gates to the conference. The American dele
gates will have practically nothing TO 90
with the solutions of such problems save TO
express the hope that whatever arrange
ments may be entered into an equality of
rights shall he guaranteed 10 the United
States.
Proposed International Agreement.
Organization by way of an international
agreement of the police outside the border
region is the question of first Importance to
be considered at the conference, and on
this question the instructions are clear and
direct The Washington government be
lieyes that such a measure will open the
way to the attainment of far-reaching
reform which will rebound to the benent
not only of Morocco, but of all the powers
concerned If relations with that country
are to be maintained satisfactorily 1t is be-
lieved that there must precede such inter
course an Internal situation which is favor
able to it. The American delegates Will en-
deavor to obtain such advantages for Amer
lean commerce, protection for life and prop
erty and such equality of trade rights as
will effectively remove the barriers to for
o,rr do hot how
make the door to the commerce of Morocco
worth the opening. They will impress upon
their confreres the fact that while the
Washington government gives hearty in
dorsement to the principle of the open door
its interest does not stop there.
This government desires not only that the
door shall be opened to the worlds trade,
but that it shall be utilized in a way that
shall prove beneficial alike to Morocco and
to the treaty powers
What the Delegates Will Favor.
The American delegates will favor the
betterment of religious and class conditions
in Morocco all of which are regarded as
important factors in the proper and effect
i've policing of the interior, and in paving
the way to intercourse between Morocco and
the outside world. Propositions looking to
the benefit and betterment of the Moroccan
people calculated to enable them to partici-
pate In and derive benefits from the worlds
trade Will receive the IdNOIdDle SOHSiuSld-
ton of the American delegates.
Treatment of the Jews in MOROCCO is the
subject of a special and supplementary let
ter of instructions to the delegates. In this
letter the Secretary calls attention to the
numerous and harsh determinations i'm
posed in Morocco against Jews. The Amer
lean delegates are instructed to devote
their best efforts to obtain the removal of
such determinations, and the hope is ex
pressed that these efforts will command
the unhestating support of all the treaty
nations, either on the ground of humanity
or for the reason that fair treatment to
Jew and Gentle alike will go far toward
making practicable the other measures
adopted by the conference.
With the suppression of the smuggling of
arms in the border regions between Mo-
rocco and Algeria the Washington govern
ment is not so directly concerned because
of the nature Of the program for the con-
ference by which the enforcement of such
regulations is limited to France and Mo-
rocco. In SO far, however, as the putting
down of contraband trade is a subject of
concern to international commerce. 1t is
expected by the Washington government
that this subject will share to come extent
the consideration of the entire conference.
Question of Financial Reform.
On the question of financial reform which
Is the second to be discussed the instruc-
lions to the American delegates are con-
fined to the general suggestion that the
open-door policy will prove safe guide in
the consideration of this question. which
/ carries with it no special proposition for
the establishment of a predominant foreign
influence.
Nor is the United States concerned with
the third subject of the program-the more
economical collection of revenues and the
establishment of new taxes or dues-unless
American commerce should be Disseminated
against or affected. Here as In the dis
cussion of the first subject, the American
delegates are instructed to insist upon
equality of treatment for American COM
merce. trade. navigation and individual ac-
tivities They will also take care to see to
1t that the revenues shall be so adjusted
as to insure an equal distribution of the
benefits of trade among all the treaty ma
tons. In the discussion of the subject the
American delegates will also give special
attention to the rights of the Moorish peo-
pie. and will favor a policy calculated to
encourage and assist them in the building
up of their trade and in increasing their
commercial productive capacity.
Prevention of Private Monopoly.
The American delegates are instructed
heartily to support the fourth subject of