The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-17
CONFERENCE
 WAS OPENED Picturesque Scenes at A1geciras. A SPANIARD IS PRESIDENT First Days Session Marked With
 Cordial Spirit. Ambassador White Heartily Received by Fellow Diplomats and work
 of Organization Was Effected
 --Moroccans Were Feat

The opening of the Moroccan confer ence today was chiefly notable for the spirit of conciiiation manifested the formal inaugural ses- sion.
 The event of the day was the gather ing of the Ambassadors with their ex- tensive staffs and the one hours ses- sion In which the Duke of Almadovar Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs was unanimously elected president Of the conference. The Dukes speech of acceptance breathed concord and peace It counseled the nations of the sover- eighty of the Sultan, the territorial integrity of Morocco and the open door, It was significant that both the French and German delegations heartl- Iy seconded the remarks of the Duke, thus foreshadowing the amelioration Of Franco-German relations.
 The envoys were driven to the con- ference in court equfpages, sent from Madrid by King Alfonso. The mule trains in tho narrow streets had to make way for these eQuipages but oth- erwise the presence of these sugges- tions 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 hall were taken past the imposing walled bull ring with its massive grand stand which is capable of seating half the population, by the barracks out side which the soldiers in the garrison were lounging and the pleasant village occupied by the Moorish residents and their numerous encourage or servants and guards.
 The delegates had agreed to make themselves comfortable and not to trouble about uniforms, so most Of them were in afternoon dress.
 The Moors were the last to arrive, and their white drapeFies. turbans and yellow shoes added an odd touch to the m afternoon tea.
 Picturesaue Arabs Conle.
 There were seven of the Arabs, dig- ntfled men with watehful eyes and all with athletic frames except Mohammed el Torres, whose figure is bent under the weight of his S3 years and who walks with a long stan which he han dies more as lance than as cane.
 The Duke of Almadovar met Mo hammed el Torres at the head of the stairs, a distinction which was not shown to the other delegates. The re- pose of the Moors was shaken for a second by the rattle of camera shut ters in the hands of some thirty for
  though a file of soldiers were cooking their rifles. A few hundred newspaper men and artists representing illustrat- ed periodicals lined the approaches.
 The Duke of Almadovar in welcom- ing the conference in the name of King Alfonso said 1t was tho second time that Morocco and the great powers had met in Spain to deliberate on questions of the highest importance and he hoped that the common efforts of the envoys would result in the satisfactory fulfill ment of the heavy task imposed upon them. ..*..- ,.
 Herr won Raldolowitz, the German Ambassador to Spain and head of the German delegation, then rose and pointed out that the position alphaoetl- calIy of Allemagne (Germany, gave him the right to propose the Duke or Almodovar for president of the confer epce. The election of the duke was unanimous.
 Great anxiety prevailed here pre- vious to the opening of the interna- tional conference on Moroccan re- forms. On all sides there was much going and coming as the final visits were exchanged between the delegates to the conference.
 During the morning the British and French delegates held lengthy meet ing which is commented on as showing close cooperation between Great Brit ain and France.
 Some of the delegates attract more attention than others. The represen- tatives of France and Germany are nat urally objects of curiosity but the pie turesque garb of Moroccan delegates headed by the venerable Mohammeo ell Torres, foreign minister of Moroc- co, shared the honors with the French men and Germans.
 - In inc bay the international squad rons kept up an intermittent booming of guns as members come and go. The American squadron lies across the bay inside the mole of Gibraltar. From the windows of Ambassador Whites room here the stars and stripes on the Brooklyn. the flagship of Admiral Sigsbee are plainly visible.
 Called on Embassie%.
 MT. White and Minister GummerC occupy apartments which command a magnificent sweep of the bay of Gi- braItar and the distant African coast The American delegates are exchanging visits with the members of the othcI Embassies, MT. Whites first visits be- ing to the Spanish, French. German and Austrian delega tions. Messrs. White and Gunmere received the Moorish del egates by appointment at noon. The Avuntamiento, or town hall. Of Algeciras has been deliberately fitted LID for the sessions of the conference The marble staircase is carpeted win red velvet and lined with palms and the assembly room, where the delegates will confer, is wAinscoated with heavy walnut and looks brilliant with It's red curtains and red carpet.
 The table at winch the delegates Will sit extends the entire length Of the hall. The arrangement of the positions of the delegates Is som what signifi. cant. The presiding officer VIII sit madlately on the Presidents right will be the Germans, Herr von Radowitz' Ambassador 10 Spain, and Count von Tattenbach, Minister to Portugal Then will come the two Belgians, separating the Germans form the French dele gates headed by M. Reviol, Chief of inc French Mission At the presidents s left will be the Austrian delegation. Ambassador White and Minister Gum mere. The United States will thus be fIanked by Austria on the right and