Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
DENIED BY STERNBURG
GERMANY rs NOT SEEKING TRoU-
BILE WITH FRANCE.

The charge that the German emperor is
seeking excuse for trouble with France
rather than an agreement about Morocco is
denied by Baron Speck Won Sternburg, the
German ambassador. 1T was Tor the
specific object of reaching peaceable ar
rangement that my government urged the
conference at Algeciras,' he said. The
ambassador declared that Germany was
contending for very important principle
at Algeciras. Important as is the German
trade with Morocco" he said, 'the COM
mercial side of the question is of secondary
consideration Germanys policy has been
and is to preserve the status quo In all
countries whose rights rest on the laws of
nations. 1t is this policy alone which has
enabled Emperor William to maintain peace
In Germany since the time he became the
leader of Germany nineteen years ago and
to keep her out of the wars in which the
great powers have since then been engaged.
While the French trade with Morocco
exceeds that of Germany. the one Is at a
standstin while the other is rapidly in
creasing. Indeed Morocco is one of few
countries open to the further development
of German trade.
The Open Door in Morocco.
Important. however, as are these facts
the main question at Algeciras is that OF
the equal rights of all and of the open door,
In a few words 1t is possible to give
synopsis of the German contention on these
points as presented at Algeciras. Germany
proposes that the sultan shall organize the
police of Morocco; that the money for this
purpose shall be furnished by the Bank of
Morocco, and that to a force of international
police, composed of officers chosen from the
minor powers such as Switzerland, Sweden,
Norway and Denmark, shall be entrusted
the organization and drill of the entire
police force. The police would be under the
supervision of the diplomatic corps at Tan
gier and an officer of high rank should be
appointed whose duty it would be to watch
the development of the new force and re-
port upon its efficiency to the diplomatic
corps.
The French Contention.
"France on the other hand, declares that
she does not object to the organization OF
the police by the sultan in the port towns
of Morocco, nor to the cost of the force
being paid out of the Bank of Morocco.
She insists however, that the foreign Of
ficers of the force shall be chosen from the
armies of France and Spain. The adoption
of this proposition is opposed by Germany
on the ground that such a scheme would
strip the police system of its International
guaranty which is the guaranty alike to
the signatory powers and to the sultan of
the maintenance of the open door and of
the sultans independence. If the sultan
were forced to select the officers of the
police from France and Spain he would
soon become dependent upon these two
countries. Germany is convinced that the
officers so chosen would regard their mis-
sion from the national rather than the in
ternatonal standpoint. In short, the plans
would be tantamount to a double mandate
to the exclusion of the other powers inter-
ested
"Germanys proposals with regard to the
organization of the bank follow the lines
of those suggested for the police in that
they have for their object the preservation
of the international character of the bank
by placing it under the control of repre-
sentatiyes of the powers. The adoption of
the French plan regarding this question
would, in Germany's opinion, turn the bank
into French institution. In brief, the ac-
ceptance of the French proposals with re-
gard to the Bank of Morocco and the police
system, it is Germany's firm belief would
give to France the control of Morocco in
all economic, financial and military mat
tiers. thereby closing the door to the rest
of the world and destroying rights acquired
by treaty"