New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-21
WHERE DANGER LIES.
Uhy the Far Orient, Rather than
Morocco, Is q Source of Peril.

of Europe it is doubtful whether this can be
regarded, as being the case any longer The
danger point has shifted once more to the Far
Orient where a condition of affairs is not mere
ly developing, but already exists the extreme
gravity of which has apparently escaped, the
vast majority of the people in this country eX-
cepting those who possess commercial and in
dustriaI interests in the Orient. True, there are
all sorts of fears expressed as to the outcome of
the International congress which assembled on
Tuesday last in the Spanish town of Algec1ras'
at the request of the Sultan of Morocco to
determine the fate of his empire. But there
Should be no undue alarm to the possibility
of any armed conflict resulting from the meet
ing, even. if the delegates should disperse with
out having come to any understanding. Prince
Bismarck wont to say that it impru-
dent to NEEDLE in the affairs Of foreign states
unless had the power to accomplish ones
intentions. And it may be questioned whether
any of the governments represented at the con-
gress have that power in the sense that they
prepared to enforce their views by means of
Immediate military and naval action. either in
diVidually collectively. To put the matter
briefly there is no nation at the congress which
is either willing or able to resort to a declara-
ton of to enforce its views.
1 do not propose to enter here into any discus
sion as to the pretensons of the various powers
who are engaged in considering al Algeciras
their respective interests, political and CONNER
ciaL in Morocco, beyond pointing out that, while
France has most at stake in the Moorish empire
which is bordered every side save the sea,
by her African colonies, Germany for her part
cannot expose herself to the risk of seeing her
trade, which ranks in Importance next to that
of Great Britain, virtually excluded from Mo-
rocco as it has been from Tunis and Madagas-
car since these two formerly sovereign states
became dependencies of France 1t is all very
well to say that for certain number of years
the present tariff viii he maintained For there
is no doubt that if nation is permitted to
assume the control of the Moorish empire and
to WELD predominant influence through native
officials it will acquire a virtual MONOPOLY of the
trade. to the eventual exclusion of it's foreign
rivals. That is what the Germans fear, and
not without some good ground. They foresee
that if France is allowed to exercise the mastery
In Morocco implied by her agreement with
Great Britain the Moorish empire will become
Just as much Gallo dependency as Tunis That
Is why they have gone to the congress bent on
demanding not only the same tariff as that &C
corded to French imports, but likewise an equal
share in the commercial administrative and po-
Htical concessions granted by or extorted from
the Moorish Sultan. This is what the Kaiser
means by the open door" in Morocco and the
fTeHcH 70 Wnon the everlasting disturbances in
that empire have for nearly half century been
source of constant trouble and expense, re-
curing the maintenance of large bodies of troops
on the borders and the devising of all sorts of
costly means for the protection of their native
subjects of the latter's industry and trade nat
urally resent Germany's refusal to permit them
to have free hand in the establishment of a
stable government in Morocco under their own
direction and to reap the fruits of all their
heavy outlays
So much for the issues at stake which will
probably lead to a fresh grouping of the powers,
since Russia seems disposed to champion at the
those of her nominal ally on the banks of the
Seine; while in the way it would appear as
If Italy is more inclined to sympathize with the
attitude of France than with her ally at Ber-
lin. The main point however. is that none of
them are prepared at the present moment to go
to war about Morocco. To begin with none Of
them are ready for the fray. Some years ago 1
wrote in this series article calling attention
to the fact that Germany at the time alone
ready for war. That no longer be said of
her. For, pointed out by that eminent Eng
Hsh statesman Sir Charles Dixie. who is re-
garded one of the foremost authorities in
Europe on foreign and military questions Ger
many is now in the process of equpping her
artillery with a field gun equal if not SUI
perior, to that Of France. Until this is
plete1, which will not be for a number Of months