Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-01-05
THE MOROCCO CONFERENCE.
OPENED THIS AFTERNOON AT
ALGEcIRAS, SPAIN.
Much Depends Upon The Doings of
The Gathering Regarding
The Moroccan
Question.
RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO MA
TONS STRAINED.

Algeciras. Spain. Jan. 5.-No more
charming spot could have been select
ed for the meeting of the Iuternation-
al Conference on the Moroccan Ques-
tiou than Algeeiras, which is town
of about 10, 600 inhabitants. situated
pictnresquely on the Gulf of Gibraltar,
only about five miles across the bay
from Gibraltar. The climate is al
most tropical and at this time of the
year most beau tiful and pleasant.
The accommodations of the town
are quite fair, as it is frequently visit
ed by tourists of the globe trotter"
species, who know a good hotel from
bad one and insist upon having the
best any city may offer The govern
ment has placed one of the govern
ment buildings at the disposal of the
conference and has made the most elab-
crate preparations for the convenience
of the representatives Of the foreign
governments attending the conference.
The conference Will be formally
opened this afternoon by NJ. Paul
Reveil, the principal French represen-
tative, who will undoubtedly play a
leading part in the conference 1t is
highly important gathering aud it is
we'll understood that the peace of Eu-
rope depends. in large measure,
upon the result of the deliberations
of the conference. The latter was
called at the request of the Sultan of
Morocco, after all negotiations between
Morocco and France concerning the
latter's demand for positive assurances
from the Sultan of Moroccon regard
ing the security of the frontiers bad
failed. France was not willing at
first to consent TO an International
conference foi the settlement of ques-
tions which, in the opinion of the
French Government, concerned only
France and Morocco
The matter, however, became the
subject of extensive negotiation be-.
tween the other powers and Germany
took decided stand in favor of Mo
rocco, that France finally assented to
the holding of the conference. The sit
uation between France and Germany,
already strained by the antagonistic
position taken by Emperor William,
was aggravated bv the publication in
France of certain dispatches and Off
cial documents. which involved sever
al criticisms of the attitude of the
German Emperor To offset the effect
of the statement contained in the
Yellow Book published by the Fren I'll
Government, Germany published a
White Book, which was practically an
answer to the charges and criticisms
contained in the French Yellow
Book
This added to the friction and what
aggravated the situation still more was
the fact that NJ. Rouyier insisted upon
selecting NJ. Revolt as the representa-
tive of the French Government at the
conference, Notwithstanding the plain
hints given out by the German official
organs that NJ Revolt was persona
non grata in Berlin. Practically moth
ing will be done at the opening ses-
sion today, as the representatives of
the powers will merely exchangestheir
accreditives and will. then probably
hold a mere informal meeting for the
purpose of arranging for the time of
the meetings. the method of proco-
dure and other details which have to
be adjusted before the actual work of
the conference can begin.