The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-17
Brilliant Scene at Opening of
 Moroccan Conference
AMERICAN ATTITUDE PUBLIC
Nothing Can Be Done by American Delegates Without instructions. Action Must Be Ratified
 by the Senate.

Algeciras, January 16.-6:10 D. m.-The opening of the Moroccan conference to- day was chiefly notable for the spirit or conciliation manifested throughout the formal inaugural session. The events of the day were the gathering of the ambas- sadors with their extensive staffs and the one hours session, in which the Duke of Almodovar, Spanish minister of for eign affairs was unanimously elected president of the conference.
 The dukes speech of acceptance breath ed concord and peace. It counselled the nations to adjust their differences and emphasized the essential principles of the sovereignty of the Sultan, the territorial integrity of Morocco and the open door. It was significant that both the French and German delegations heartily second ed the remarks of the duke. thus fore shadowing the amehoration of Franco German relations.
 Driven in Court Equlpages.
 The representatives were driven to the conference in court equipages sent from Madrid by King Alfonso. The mule trains in the narrow streets had to make way for these equipages, but otherwise the presence of these suggestions of more brilliant worlds than of this little Span- ish seaport in no way affected the towns people
 The delegates on the way to the city hall were taken past the imposing walled L1lI ling, Mlll massive graildStAnd, which is capable of seating half the pop ulation; by the barracks, outside which the soldiers in the garrison were loung- ing, and the pleasant village occupied by the Moorish residents and their nu- rnerous entourage Of servants and guards.
 The delegates had agreed to make them- selves comfortable and not to trouble about uniforms, so most of them were in afternoon dress.
 The Moors were the last to arrive, and their white draperies, turbans and yell low shoes added an odd touch to a gath ering that otherwise looks like that at an afternoon tea.
 Arabs Are Dlgnified Men.
 There were seven of the Arabs, digni- fled men, with watchful eyes and all with athletic frames, except Mohammed el Torres, whose figure is bent under the weight of his SS years, and who walked with long staff which he handles more as lance than as a cane.
 
 med el Torres at the head of the stairs, a distinction which was not shown the other delegates. The repose of the Moors was shaken for a second by the rattle of camera shutters in the hands of some thirty foreign photographers, which sounded as though file of soldiers were docking their rifles. A few hundred news paper men and artists representing Illus trated periodicals lined the approaches.
 The Duke of Almodovar in welcoming the conference in the name of King AL fonso said 1t was the second time that Morocco and the great powers had met in Spain to deliberate on questions of the highest importance and he hoped that the common efforts of the envoys would re- suit in the satisfactory fulfllment of the heavy task imposed upon them.
 Herr von Radowitz, the German ambas- sador to Spain and head of the German delegation, then rose and pointed out that the position alphabetically of Ale mangie (Germany) gave him the right to propose the Duke of Almodovar for presi- dent of the conference. The election of the duke was unanimous.