The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-16

upholds her special and paramount
right, based on geographical position, to
safeguard the future of Morocco, acting
thus as the virtual trustee for the ma
tions.
The issues before the conference are
therefore comparatively simple: First,
shall France be charged with the neces-
sary REFORMS for Morocco; ana second
the detailed consideration of these Vafl-
GUS reforms relating to finances, police,
customs and contra band.
The Situation.
The empire of Morocco is an absolute
despotism- There has been steady war
fare several years between the sultan
Abdul Aziz and the pretenders to the
throne. This caused feeling of un-
easiness among the Arab tribes in Al
geria, the adjoining French territory,
and led to efforts on the part of France
to assume guardianship over Morocco
Germany was not willing to agree un-
reservedly to this as Germany was sec
ond only to Great Britain in the extent
of its interests in Morocco. In 1902 the
imports of the three powers into
Morocco were: Great Britain, $6, 210,-
600; Germany, $3.50, ,OeO; and France.
$3.50, 600 The exports of Morocco to
the three powers in 1902 were to Great
Britain, 81, 999, coo: to Germany, S535,000;
and to France, S785, ,0O0-
France pursuing its Moroccan policy,
sent a 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 IN perial yacht Hohenzol-
lern, but remained ashore barely two
hours. During that time he made a
speech of which several versions were
published. The substance of his re-
1 marks, however, was that he assured
| the German residents that the SOW
! be maintained The same day the
/ French minister of foreign affairs, NJ
I Delcasse, made a significant speech in
4 the senate in Paris, in which, after re-
! ferring to the sultan's weakness and the
anarchy resulting therefrom. ''preJu-
] dicial to everybody and especially to
/ France and Algeria" he declared that
resistance 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 lat
| er in a strained state of affairs and
| in the proposition to hold an interna-
tiOnal conference on Morocco.
France and Great Britain, April 4,
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 agreeing to sup
port France in the Moroccan policy.
But, in the meanwhile, NJ. Delcasse
was compelled to resign June 6, 1905
after directing the foreign affairs OF
France since June %, 1898, and
Premier Rouvier took the foreign
portfolio. Subsequent development!
showed that the change in the for
eign office probably averted war be.
tween Germany and France as tht
former country was pressing the lat
ter very severely, automatically.
After considerable further fencins
between Germany and France those
two powers July 8, 1905, agreed OF
the basis of a programme for the pro
posed International conference.