Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-17
THE MOROCCAN ISSUE
Details of the Formal Opening
..l Yesterday
OF GREAT CONFERENCE
Spiril of Cancellation Noted at the
Outset.
ALMODOVAR TO PRESID
Picturesque Scenes in the Quaint Old
Spanish Town of Algeciras-Plans
for the Assembly.
ALM0D0VAR TO SIDE


The opening of the Moroccan conference
at Algeciras, Spain, yesterday, as reported
in The Star. was chiefly notable for the
spirit of Cancellation manifested throughout
the formal inaugural session. The events
OF the day were gathering of the am
bassadors with their extensive STATS. and
the one hours session in which the Duke of
Almodovar. Spanish minister of foreign af-
fairs, was unanimously elected president of
the conference. The dukes speech of ac-
ceptance breathed concord and peace. 1t
counseed the nations to adjust their dit
ferences and emphasized the essential prin-
cip-e of the sovereignty of the sultan the
territorial integrity of Morocco and the open
door 1t was significant that both the
French and German delegations heartily
seconded the remarks of the duke thus
foreshadowing the ameioration of Franco
German relations.
Court Equipages From Madrid.
The ENJOYS were driven to the conference
in court equipages sent from Madrid by
King Alfonso. The mule trains In the mar
row streets had to make way for these
equipages, but otherwise the presence of
these suggestions of more brilliant worlds
than that of this little Spanish seaport in
no way affected the townspeople
The delegates on the way to the city
MAJ! were taken past the imposing walled
DUH ring, with its massive grand stand,
which Is capable of seating half the popu-
lat1on; by the barracks, outside of which
the soldiers OF the garrison were Longing
ana near the pleasant villa occupied by the
MOORISH representatives and their numerous
encourage of servants and guards
The delegates had agreed to make them
serves comfortable, and not to trouble about
uniforms. so most of them were in after
noon dress. The Moors We're the last to
arrive, and their white draperies red tur-
bans and yellow shoes added an odd touch
10 ,he gathering that otherwise looked like
that of an afternoon tea
Picturesque Arabs.
mere We're seven of the Arabs. digni6ed
men, with watchful eyes and all with atb-
ietic frames, except Mohammed Ell Torres
whose figure is bent under the weight of
his eighty-three years, and who walks with
long staff, which he handles more as
lance than as cane.
Inc Duke of Almodovar met Mohammea
Fl orres at the head of the stairs a dis
junction which was not shown To tho o+bar
oeIegates The repose of the Moors was
shaken for a second by the rattle of caro
era shutters In the hands of some thirty
foreign photographers which sounded as
though file of soldiers was cooking its
rifles. Quite hundred newspaper mon ana
artists representing Illustrated periodicals
Ined the approaches.
p The Duke of Almodoyar in vercomIro .ho
conference in the name of King Alfonso
SAID 1t was the second time that Morocco
and the great powers had met In Spain to
portance, and he hoped that the common
EFFORTS of the ENJOYS would result in the
satisfactory fulhllment of the heavy task
imposed upon them.
A Plea for Cancellation.
Herr Won Radowitz, the German Ambas-
sador to Spain and head of the German DEL
esation' then rose and pointed out that the
position alphabetically of Allemagne Ger
many gave him the right to propose the
Duke OF Almodovar for president of the
conference. The election of the duke was
unanimous. The duke thanked Herr Won
and the other members of the
saying:
The powers have clearly shown their de-
sire that order, peace and prosperity shall
reign throughout Morocco. The sultan. as
well as the foreign governments desire this
END, which is obtainable by introducing re-
forms upon the triple principle of the SOW
ereignty of the sultan, the integrity of his
territory and equal commercial treatment,
namely, the open door Mutual respect for
our reciprocal interests and sincere desire
70 conciliate them must be, according to my
view, our rule of conduct al this conference
Our own sentiment, as well as the expec-
tant attitude of the entire world, dictates
such conciliatory solution"
Secretaries were then chosen among
them Baron Nj. de Margeri, formerly secre-
tary OF the French embassy at Washington
NJ. Revolt, former governor of Aleiers
who heads the French delegation, warmly
the Duke of Almodovar's state
ments. He urged the conference to adhere
To the thoughts so happily expressed by the
duke and to take the basis of the pro-
jected reforms the triple principle enunci-
ated.
Herr Won Radowitz Joined NJ Revolt in
expressing the hope that the work of the
would give fruitful result
The conference decided to first take up
the question of the surveillance of CONTRA
band and then that regarding the reform
o. Moroccan finances. This decision indi-
Gates the disposition of the conference to
put off the more delicate questions involved
until the last.
Ambassador White Satisfied.
Ambassador White was most satisfied
with the result of the meeting.
Herr Won Radowitz, head of the German
delegation, today expressed strong concilia-
tory views. He said: '.IAll allusion to war
is purely phantasma goric."
Great activity prevailed here as the hour
for the opening of the conference reforms
approached. On all sides there was much
going and coming as the final official visits |
were exchanged between the delegates to
the conference.
During the morning the British and |
French delegates held lengthy meeting |
which is commented upon as showing close |