The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-01-12
THE MOROCCAN SITUATION
Causes Leading up to the Conference
to be Held at Algeeiras
Question Whether France Is or Is
Not Entitled to Have Special Priv
ileged Position i'm MOroccO-Ger-
many Will Seek to Secure Interna-
tional Control of Affairs. and an
''Open Door" As to Commerce.
(By the Associated Press. }

(By the Associated Press)
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 country
unrestricted by any laws, civil or relig-
steady warfare which the Sultan, Mulai
abd-el-Aziz, has had to wage against
the pretenders to the throne This
caused feeling of uneasiness among
the Arab tribes in Algeria, the adjoin-
ing French territory, and led to efforts
on the part of France to assume a
guardianship over Morocco. Germany
was not willing to unreservedly agrae
to this, being second only to Great
Britain in the extent of her interests
in Morocco. In 1902 the imports of
the three powers into Morocco were:
Great Britain, s6,21O,OOO; Germany,
81. .S50,0O0 and France, $3SO,OOO. The
exports of Morocco to the three pow
ers in 1902 were to Great Britain ST.
999 900, to Germany $535,0O0, and to
France S7S5, ,0OO
France, pursuing her Moroccan poll
cy, sent special mission to Fee 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 Hohen-
zollern, but remained ashore barely
two hours. During that time, he made
speech of which several versions
were published. The substance of his
majsty's remarks, however, was that
he assured the German residents that
the sovereignty and integrity of Mo-
rocco would be maintained. The same
day the then French minister of for
eign affairs, M. Del Case, made a sig
nificant speech in the Senate at Paris,
during which, after referring to The
Sultan's weakness and the anarchy re-
sulting therefrom, 'Fprejudicial to ev-
erybody and especially to France and
Algeria" he declared that resistance
in interested quarters would not cause
France to modify her policy" in Mo
rocco. This sentiment called forth
vigorous applause.
These utterances~ aroused both Ger
many and France and caused excite
ment throughout Europe, resulting lat
er in a strained state of affairs and
in the proposition to hold an Internal
ional conference on Morocco.
France and Great Britain, April s,
1904, signed an agreement by which
the latter in substance gave France a
free hand in Morocco, in return for a
free hand in Egypt, and the settlement
of the Newfoundland fisheries disputes,
Great Britain also agreed to support
France in her Moroccan policy.
But, in the meanwhile, NJ. DelCasse
was compelled to resign June 6, 1906,
after directing the foreign affairs Of
France since June %, 1898, and Pre-
mier Rouvier took the foreign port
folio. Subsequent developments show
ed that the change in the foreign Office
probably averted war between Germa-
ny and France as the former country
was pressing the latter very severely,
automatically.
After considerable further fencing
between Germany and France, those
two powers, on July s, 1905, agreed on
the basis of program for the propos-
ed International conference and with
out entering into details of the reforms
proposed it may be said that the main
and most dangerous point to be dis
cussed at the conference is the question
whether France is or is not entitled 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. Germany,
it is understood, will seek to secure
international control of the police, The
customs and other matters, and an
.sopen door" as to commerce.
On December IA the French govern
| ment issued a Yellow Book setting
forth it's side of the controversy and
Janua~ the German government
published a White Book giving its YER
sion of the dispute.