New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-17
FRANCE IN MOROCCO.
America and Germany Could Not
lFord to Let Her Haze Her Way.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir The great and sincere respect in which /
hold the editorial management OF The Tribune a
paper have read for forty years, makes me regret
that rossiblv have not made my meaning plain
in the recent communication which YOU We're kind
enough 10 publish.
Your note at the foot or my paper states that
am wrong IN consuming France for entering into a
secret policy with Great Britain; wrong also in
stating that French writer's. and especially one in
the Revue DIES Deux Mondes' OF recent issue. had
laid the blame for the unsatisfactory outcome Oo
France) of the Algeclras convention President
Roosevelt; and wrong at least probably So IN
holding France responsible for the Tunis affair.
VIII you pardon me for correcting these impress
si0ns? I think the questions are important and
deserve 10 be understood.
In the first place 1 never said. at least. did not
mean 10 say, that I censured found fault with
that arrangement between France and King Ed
ward It was not secret. for the British government
communicated It TO the German Ministry France.
however. kept silent Great Britain could well at
ford to exchange French claims in Egypt for Brit
ish claims in Morocco but France could not afford
10 90 so from her own point of view unless she
were allowed Il free hand in Morocco. And this
meant final control This appears from the fact
that Great Britain felt it necessary 10 put this
clause the treaty. that for thirty years France
should raise the import duties Of Morocco above
a certain rate
Here IS the all important point why neither
America Germany could afford 10 let France
have her way: II was not a question OF who had
the greatest interest. but whether France should
eventually take all. l know this intention was de-
MED. hut such a denial was also made ct. the time
of the Tuns affair This clause (as to the import
dutes) proves. however. that annexation IN one
form or another (probably like that of Egypt
by Great Britain) was tho true purpose
will not enter into details. Tor dare not claim
your space for them but beg you to consider this
point carefully from a purely American point Of
view. not from friendly feeling for the parties
view " '7 BUSINESS
second-I had not referred to this matter EXCEPT
not have carried her point without war But to
make war for such a purpose-how that posi-
Would not the Parliament protest knowing that
their own hth and kin would have 10 do the fight
Thirdr-President Roosevelt helped France IN 60
give up the demand that the harbor police sboui9
be interna ional not purely French but he saw the
Gated the placing of this police under an officer an
pointed by international agreement. A Swiss was
CHOSEN. lie IS responsible 70 the powers including
thls country Einc iife lachryme!
ana elsewhere it is stated in FRANCE O. that onr
President caused France to he injured in her in
Ileved that demand was wrong no oTSab use ne be-
thought a peaceful agreement was better than the
state of angry feeling that existed. Emperor viii
Fam agreed with him. lie was blamed for WELDING
by his own people-but at any rate ne did noe
FoGrth-I regret the reference to Prinea Rje
miuck- nave, / believe, searched and studied
every Phase or BlsInarckS activity, and I mini
Know the Investigations of the most competsnt
a n various countries concerning his character
unless attach value to that most inyentiI,s,
woman, Nine. Adam (and i'll genus omne) fhe ver
dict of the great majority of competent investiea
tors Is that Bismarck is innocent of Tunis Nine
Adatn, while she lived. connected Bismarck with
the death of every prominent man in Eurons "tI
had done it, So. for instance when General
!giatier died 1t was Bismarck that had managed
this death also!
AS the years go by Bismasck is becoming vndi
Gated in regard to all that has been charga1
AGAINST him ID, by his enemies bismarck made an
agreement with RUSSIA Tor the sake of peace-not
of warnot for the acquisition of foreign teTritory
no such business as that of Morocco. or anything
like it. lie wanted peace for his country and he
secured II by making its people united and bv
checking France in her attempt to assaiI Gernany
Jointly with Russia. He acted hOnorably but NOT
sentimentay, for he was a statesman and a
diplomat.
The primary and fundamental reason why Ger
many opposed the Anglo-French agreement and
why that country must and will oppose il To fbe
end does not seem to be understood IL is the fact
that If Morocco should become French and France
gain control of Spain and Portugal German shins
would not have a single neutral harbOr from the