Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11

They intended to proffer loans, and in con-
nectfon Herewith to secure a lien upon,
first, the custom houses; secondly, the for
eign relations and, thirdly, the entire adj
ministrative mechanism of the government.
In order to secure those results, some dis
play of military force might have been nee
essary, but NJ. Delcasse, the author of the
scheme, was not able to command the sup
porarily failed. Then the other nations
objected and we had the Algeciras confer
ence."
But did not France loan some money to
Mot as a government, but loan was
made with the support of the government
and In a way 1t was partly a govern
ment scheme. The money was furnished
by the Banque de Paris a des Pays Bas.
At the time it was given the sultan was
attempting to put down pretender to the
throne, Jilala ell Zarhouni, who falsely claimed
to be his brother. His majesty lacked money
to pay his troops and he had to repress
that rebellion or lose his throne. He there
upon borrowed $4,000, coo francs, or about
$100O0OOO, of the bank l have mentioned
at per cent interest and secured this by
mortgage of the custom receipts of the
port towns That money was quickly
spent. and the sultan was about to borrow
more, giving additional concessions, when
he was prevented by the notables of his
own country. who warned him that such an
action might cost him his throne and his
life. You see the Noroccans are very in
dependent They did not want their coun-
try mortgaged to Europe, and a state near
akin to anarchy was the result. 1t was
only little after this that my capture
took place.
Where Germany Came In.
''About this time Germany camU into
the field" continued Mr.. Perdicaris. 1.-THE
world thought that the reason for its EN-
trance was the fear that the foreign trade
| of Morocco might be captured by France.
This may have been one incentive, but the
real milk in the cocoanut was the extraor-
binary military possibilities of Morocco.
The Germans had learned the plans of the
French and they did not propose to have
a hundred thousand extra troops added to
the French army. They feared a possible
European war at some time in the future
in which those Berber troops might turn
the scale and cause Germany the loss of
the Rhine. The kaiser is a great COM
| mercial drummer, as far his country
is concerned, but he is great soldier as
| WELL and he appreciated the military stu
alton when he objected to the annexation
Of Morocco to France"
"When did Kaiser Wilhelm realize that
situation, Mr.. Perdicaris?"
mo one knows outside himself and his
counsellors." Indeed he never intimated
that such situation existed, but
he probably became aware of it
through the Paris newspapers. When the
Anglo-French agreement was published the
French editors began to crow over the pos
sibiities of the future. They pointed out
the enormous strength that their army
would have by the addition of Morocco,
and ventured that with England now at
her back France had fair show in new
struggle with Germany. There is no doubt
but that the kaiser was alarmed for we
know he sent his agent, Count Tattenbach,
to Fee to say that German banking inst-
tuition would loan money to the sultan. He
hoped In this way to Offset the French
and acquire merit himself. Later on the
kaiser stopped at Tangier on his way
through the Strait of Gibraltar and then
made the statement that he would hold
Morocco to it's treaty stipulations with
Germany. This prevented any further
progress in the French scheme and event
ually led to the conference"
Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows.
How did the nations stand at the con-
ference?" asked.
THAT would be difficult to say If one
considered the matter from a newspaper
point of view only. The reports presented
the situation far different from what it
really was, and it is interesting to look
behind the scenes and see how matters
really stood. In, the first place, France had
Spain and Italy as her friends. The Span
1sh were pro-French because they had
understanding with France that any gain
she might make in Morocco was not to in
terfere with Spain's historic rights there.
The French had the support of Italy be-
cause the Italians are among their chief
customers, and also because the two coun-
tries are closely associated in business en-
terprises of many kinds. italy also hopes
to acquire Tripoli through the aid of France.
She failed, as you know, to gain Abyssinia
as colonial possession, and her territory
| on the African continent is small Tripoii
lies just over the way, and while not of
great material value, the Italians look upon
it with hungry eyes,"
"How did the English stand there?"
Great Britain was supported by Portu-
gal. Belgium and Holland. BY Portugal
because the Portuguese bonds are largely
| held in Great Britain, and if the English
should foreclose Portugal might be bank
rupt. By Belgium and Holland because
they are closely associated with England
| in business and also because they want
| to retard any advances by Germany fear
| ing that Germany, on some pretext, may at
| some time take possession of their terrific
ries and annex them to the German EN-
pre-
How about Russian"
"She was too much engaged with her
troubles at home and her war In the far
| east to take great part in the conference,
| but she voted with France much to the
disgust of the Germans, who had hoped that
she would be with them. AS a result of
| Austria"
Where did the United States come in ?"
1T took the part of peacemaker rather
than anything else. and stood only for
equal rights for all nations as to the for
eign trade in Morocco"
The Sultan Of Morocco vs. the Sultan
of Turkey.
How does this conference leave Moroc-
COT"
"It seems to me that.it puts her in much
| the position that Turkey holds today on ac-
| count Of the Jealousies of the nations. The
Sultan of Morocco win be strong in the
same way. No one nation will be permitted
q n dn ORC
| trolling, exploiting or developing his coun-
| try. and such developments, IL they take
place. will be largely on the part of in
dividuals. The sultan will now get money
| from the bank. and he WILL perhaps. intro
| duce reforms Of one kind or another in the
way Of taxation"
How about the people Of Morocco; will
they allow foreigners to build railroads.
Yes, think SO. IL the roads can be built
without endangering the loss of independ-
ence. Many Of the Moroccans want to see