Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-12
Attempt 10 Assume Protectorate
Over Morocco Led to Com.
ing Conference.
GERMANY STUMBLING BLOCK
Teuton's Interests Greater Than Those
of Rival on the
West.

deSpotism, has been in state of tur-
natural course of events in a country
unrestricted by any laws, civil or reli-
gious, and also on account of the steady
warfare which the sultan, MulGi add
el-Aziz, has had TO wage against the
pretenders to the throne.
This caused a feeling of uneasiness
among the Arab tribes in Algeria. the
adjoining French territory, and led to
efforts ON the part of France to assume
a guardianship over Morocco.
Germany was not willing to unre
sorvedly agree 10 this, being second
only TO Great Britain in the extent of
her interests in Morocco In 1902 the
imports of the three powers into Mo
rocco were: Great Britain. $6,210, 600;
Germany, S1,S50,000, and France, $780,
600. The exports of Morocco to the
three powers in 1902 were to Great
Britain, S2,999 900, to Germany $685.,
900, and to France S7S5,000
Visited Morocco.
France, pursuing her Moroccan poll
cy, sent a special mission to Fez last
year. Germany and Great Britain did
the same. The German emperor went
still further. He visited Tangier
March 81, 1905, on the imperial yacht
Hohenzollern, but remained ashore
barely two hours. During that time,
he made a speech of which several YER
sions were published. The substance
of his majasty's remarks, however,
was that he assured the German resi-
dents that the sovereignty and inte-
gritty of Morocco would be maintained.
The same day the then French Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs, NJ. Delcasse,
made significant speech in the sen
ate at Paris, during which, after refer
ring TO the sultan's weakness and the
anarchy resulting therefrom, ''preju-
dicial TO everybody and especially TO
France and Algeria he declared that
resistance i'll interested quarters
would not cause France to modify her
policy in Morocco This sentiment
called forth vigorous applause.
Created Eurorc.
These utterances aroused both Ger
many and France and caused excite
ment throughout Europe, resulting lat
ar in a strained state of affairs and in
the proposition to hold an interna-
tional conference on Morocco.
France and Great Britain April
1904. signed an agreement by which |
the latter in substance gave France a |
free hand in Morocco in return for a |
free hand in Egypt and the settlement |
1f the Newfoundland fisheries disputes, |
Great Britain also agreed to support |
France in her Moroccan policy.
But in the meanwhile, NJ. Delcasse |
was compelled TO resign June 6, 1905, |
France since June 2S, 1898. and Pre-
nier Rouvier took the foreign portfo-
10. Subsequent developments showed |
hat the change in the foreign office |
averted war between Ger
many and France as the former coun-
-ry was pressing the latter very Sc
5erely, automatically.
After considerable further fencing
between Germany and France those
.wo powers on July s. 1905, agreed on
he basis of a program for the pro-
posed international conference and
entering into details of the
'eforms proposed. it may be said that
he main and most dangerous point to
,e discussed at the conference Is the
question whether France is or is not
entitled to have a special and privileg-
ID position in Morocco. This is the vi
al issue and the minor questions, it
las been pointed out, can be adjusted
,nce, this point is definitely settled.
Germany it is understood, will seek
O secure international control of the
,olice. the customs and other matters,
md an open door as TO commerce.
On Dec. II the French government |
ssued yellow book setting forth its
ide of the controversy and Jan. the
ierman government published 6 white
,ook giving its version of the dispute.