The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-02
Will the Morocco Conference Failq

Will the Morocco Conference Fail?
There seems to be no doubt that the
Czar NICHOLAS III. has made known TO
Emperor WILLIAM his earnest desire
that the strained relations between
France and Germany may be relaxed
by ar agreement of the two Powers with
relation to Morocco. The Importance
of such an agreement to Russia at the
present juncture is u~nmistakable.
Ii Is true, as some optimists point out,
that a failure of the Algeciras Confer
ence would simply leave the affairs OF
Morocco in statu quo. 1t was, however,
Just because the status quo bristled with
chances of friction and collision between
French and German interests that the
conference was called, France, it will
be remembered, had secured by treaty
from England and Spain-a treaty to
which Italy was willing to give her as
sent, 30 far as it might not conflict with
the preceding obligations imposed by
the Triple Alliance-the exclusive privi-
lego OF exercising such police functions
in Morocco us must ultimately, in the
judgment not only of tho Emperor WILL
lam, but Of impartial onlookers, have
assured ultimately to France the same
ascendency in northwest Africa which
Ia now possessed by England in Egypt.
1t was stipulated, to be sure, in the
treaty that for forty years the Powers
which had signed the Madrid convention
Of 1880 should retain equal commercial
rights in tho Sultan's dominions, but
from the time limitation the inference
seemed unavoidable that after the term
named France would cease to guarantee
an open door,
This was the ground on which En-
peror WILLIAM made known to the
French Foreign Office that he could not
aoquiesce In the exclusive exercise of
police functions by France in Morocco,
while about The same time he visited
Tangier and informed the Sultan that
Germany had not agreed to permit the
mutllation of his territory or any inter-
ference with his sovereignty. Such Ia
the status quo to which the parties to the
conference would revert in the event
of q failure to reach an agreement, 1t
il scarcely possible to conceive of one
more pregnant with elements of danger.
Would France, Great Britain and Spain
tamely submit to the cancellation OF
their tripartite treaty by the fiat of
the German Emperor Would Emperor
WILLIAM be likely to retract tho asser-
ton imposed upon him by a sense of his
imperial dignity that having been a
signatory to the Madrid convention of
1880 he could not suffer It TO be modified,
directly or indirectly, forthwith or after
Il designated date, without his explicit
CONSENT The latter alternative is in
credible. and it is plain, therefore, that
any action on the part of France to
attempt under her treaty with Engla nd
and Spain the exclusive policing Of
Morocco would be regarded by Germany
as q cdsus beiIi, In a word, the collapse
of the conference would inevitably mean
humiliation for either the Berlin or the
Paris Government.
1t Is of vital moment to Russia that
such a crisis should be averted. As we
have lately shown, her budget shows
that she will have to borrow at least
$40O, 900, 900 within the next two years.
OF this sum s?25, 000,0 O0 will be needed
at once, in order that she may meet the
interest on her debt, foreign and internal;
may continue specie payments in st.
Petersburg and resume them where they
have been suspended, and reimburse
Japan for the money expended for the
rare of Russian prisoners, who number,
Il turns out, upward Of 10000, A syndi-
cate Of French bankers has promised to
Furnish at no distant day the $22S, 0OO,0O
nov urgently required. under certain