Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-23
SPARRING OVER
MOROCCO BEGINS
GERMANY AND FRANCE CON-
MENcE sKIRMI sHING
Fresh Controversies Opened Which
Are Likely to Be Prolonged
With the Greatest
Earnestness
BY Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
ALGECIRAS, Jan. 22.-The plenlpo-
tentiaries were entertained at today's
sitting of the Moroccan conference by
an almost continuous skirmish be-
tween NJ. Revolt. head of the French
delegation, and Count Won Tattenbach,
the second of Germany's delegates.
While the amenities were carefully OBJ
served the other delegates were con-
scious that today was the beginning of
fresh controversies between France and
Germany which are likely to be long
protracted and of increasing earnest
ness.
The offense displayed by the two
plenipotentiaries suggested their diff
ferences of race. NJ. Revolt was keen,
analytical Of mind, skillfu in fine dip
lomatic phrasings and with a grace of
expression and winning personality.
Count Won Tattenbach was downright
of speech and soldierly in manner,
trusting to the solidity of his ideas and
to his facts.
The two plenpotentiaries are not in
sympathy and draw apart outside the
council room. Both are of high ambi-
ton, and it will be difficult for either
to yield to the other.
The conference assembled at the town
hall this morning. The presiding officer,
the duke of Almodovar. read messages
from the Spanish senate and chamber
of deputies expressing hope for a Sue
ceSSful issue of the conference The
Marquis Visconti, head of the Italian
mission, replying in the name of the
delegates. made a significant reference
to the International character of the
agreement to be concluded here This
was interpreted us referring to the
Franco-German difficulty over the
question of the interna tional control of
Morocco.
The conference adopted five of the
sixteen articles contained in the report
of the committee on contraband arms.
Then, as the sitting had lasted two
and a half hours, discussion of the
remaining articles went over until
Wednesday, tomorrow being reserved
for the ceremonies attending the feast
day of King Alfonso.
The discussion brought out a lengthy
discourse from Sidi Mohammed Eel
Mokhri. the chairman of the Moroccan
delegates, second of the Moroccan dele
gates, concerning Morocco's general at
titude toward the conference. Ae he
spoke in Arabic the delegates listened
silently, not comprehending word.
Later they decided to have a transla-
ton distributed to the members of the
conference.
The next incident occurred when M.
Revolt head of the French mission,
answering the Moors' request for time
to refer certain features of their re-
port to the sultan, remarked that the
Moors appeared desirous to refer some
portions of 1t and not to refer others.
Thereupon Sidi Mohammed declared
that they were obliged to refer every
thing without exception to the sultan.
This brought on a discussion among
the delegates, showing that they are
all similarly obliged to refer important
points to their respective governments.
The draft of the report under dis
cussion, besides providing repressive
laws by the powers, charges the Mo-
roccan customs authorities with the re-
preston of contraband along the coast.
Before seizing a foreign ship they must
notify the legation OF the country to
which the ship belongs and pending
action on the part of the legation at
Tangier, the Moroccan authorities shall
install a guardian on board the ship.
Upon the legations approval of the
seizure, the contraband cargo will be
condemned. the proceeds going to the
Moroccan treasury, while the fines will
be distributed between the informers
and the Moroccan treasury
The draft gives France exclusive con-
troll over contraband on the Algerian
frontier and gives Spain exclusive con-
troll along the frontiers of Spain's pos
sessions In Morocco.
The general principle of the plan Is
to leave the coast surveillance with the
Moroccan customs. but as the question
of Frances administering the customs
comes up later, the Franco German
contention remains open.