Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-02-22
MAY BE COMPROMISE.
MIDDLE GROUND LIKELY IN
MOROCCAN CONFERENCE.
France and Germany May Not Al gree
on Vital Questions-Hitch Over
Police for the SuItan-Graye Stu
alton Has Confronted Delegates.

The Algeciras conference on Moroc-
can affairs has now been freed of most
of the minor questions before it, and
finds 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 contr6l 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
ly the representatives of the diSinter-
ested powers are rebuilding their eff
forts to secure an accord before the
question reaches the open conference
and thereby avert a 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 a ground owing to the
firmness 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
Moroccos 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
ground acceptable to both countries.
Some Compromise Plans.
The ambassadors strongly oppose
the disclosure of the various tentative
plans for a compromise, saying that
publicity TENS to excite the opposition
of one side or the other and wreck tho
best efforts of diplomacy. However,
SOLiC VI TIC O1hlJIoIbloC lIOJCNto al Z
on the following general lines:
The first is 20 leave the police to the
Sultan of Morocco, thus avoiding Ger
many's objection to French control
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 III 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
90 in the way of concessions.