Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
FRANCE AND SPAIN IN MOROCCO.

The political needle points again to Mo-
rocco, the masnetic pole toward which
the eyes of the world are
Worlds now attracted The de-
~.A thronement ut Fez Of the
Sultan Abd-el-Agis by the
ulemas Of the mosque OF Mulay-ldriss and
the proclamation conferrinS the sultanate
upon Mulay-Hand are undoubtedly very
grave elements In the conflict. But the
recrudescence Of interest In the Moroccan
question at this moment 10 due to the
visit Of NJ. Plchon. minister Of foreign
affairs Of France. to Madrid and to the
speech Of NJ DelcaGse. ex-nainister OF for
eign affairs, In the chamber OF deputies on
the 26th Of January.
The appearance Of n. Delcasse In the
tribune. after . silence Of three years.
created sensation not only In the cham
Der. but throughout all France. All eyes
were turned toward the orator in silence
and bresthless expectation. A little brown
man. with brown eEes which flashed fire
through the double lenses OF his eye
glasses. evidently had something warm to
defending his Moroccan policy during the
crisis Of 1905 and his general policy Of
creating accords with foreign nations. He
had been slerifced, and uselessly. TO Ger
man rapacity; he was made the victim OF
. conspiracy. and, bssides, Germany had
menaced France with war. The NANTES
tations with which the ex=ministers re-
marks were received indicated the vast
change which had been effected since the
tragic moment whom he abandoned his
thnt l. I'D
the Intimate political friends Of NJ. Del
casse almost turned their backs upon
him, fearing that his persistence In his
anti-German policy might precipitate war.
His speech now had the immediate effect
to strengthen the Clemenceau cabinet. for
1T constitutes secret chapter related by
the man who. during seven years that be
was the foreign minister of France, had
employed his intelligence and energy to
foil the efforts Of Germany to isolate his
country. And not only that. but no had
overthrow a situation and built up the
present alliances and understa ndings
which have in a large measure isolated
Germany.
The important results of NJ. Delcasse 4
declarations and diplomatic disclosures
will be to give to the
0reator French government more
r-..do~ freedom Of action in deal
ing with questions which
have been half hidden under the seal OF
diplomatic privilege. Henceforth 1t WILL
be clearly understood that the Moroccan
question is inseparable from the European
question, ana, unless France renounces
completely her place among the great
powers. she must maintain that situation
at Casa Blanca, her Algerian frontiers,
and canjointly with Spain establish order
In the Moroccan ports.
NJ. Delcasse declared. as did NJ. Pichon,
that France could not avoid her RESPONSE
bilities In Morocco. and that il she did
another European power would take her
place. This was all the more obligatory
that Japan had closed Asia to foreign en-
terprise and that the recently constituted
hegemony of Central and South America
likewise had closed their doors. Morocco
indeed was the ultima thule, the only
country left vacant.
''Outside OF that wise policy there re-
manned for France only said M. Del
casse. Ito rely upon her alliance with
Russia and her understanding with Eng
land to recover her liberty of action which
had been taken from her by the Algeciras
act-and TO place her hand On the guard
of her sword and defy Germany. The fate
Of Morocco thus will be decided on the
plains of Lorraine"
Meseiaurs RouVier. Andre and Pelletan,
ministers In the cabinet when N. Delcasse
was minister OF foreign affairs. alone I'M
deretood some OF the covert illusions OF
their former comrade. They consider his
declarations as grave but useless. for
France will not favor a conflict which
would inevitably embroil the whole OF
Europe
NJ. Juares, the deputy collectiyist So
ciallst. was the provoking factor. In his
-
roccan policy on the 18th Of January he
declared that France should abandon Mo-
rocco. and moreover that a rapprochnent
between France and Germany was neces-
sary to secure the peace Of Europe.
Thus challenged. NJ. Pichon declared
that the government stood firmly by the
A'gecras act, TO which it
French had subscribed. We will
pa,,eu not send an expedition, y
said the minister. neither
TO Fee, neither TO Marrakech. II Abd-el
Aziz falls We win treat in the name Of
Europe with his successor; but we cannot
admit the attenuation alzation OF Mo-
rocco.
This, finally. is policy.
NJ. Ribot. the leader of the moderate re-
publIcans. declared that there was moth
absolute confidence and support. believing
that the policy was sound and eficacious.
The majority obtained by the govern
ment policy in Morocco. as announced,
was % against and 42S for the govern
ment, a majority of 1885, The defeat OF
the anti-patriotic party-the party Of
Juares-was complete and overwhelming.
NJ. Pichon had just returned from Mad
rid. where he had gone with view first
to a pleasant outing and. incidentally. to
exchange views with the Spanish foreign
office and with King Alfonso XIII.
NJ Pichon In the first place. declared
that there was perfect and entire accord
between France and Spain in Morocco.
He therefore did not go to Spain TO settle
any difficulties or disagreements. for there
were none. He had had long conferences
with Senior Ailenda Salazar. minister of
president Of the council Of ministers. and
with King Alfonso XIII.
France and SPAIN said NJ. Pichon,
have a single policy which has been
agreed upon. 1t Is to maintain strictly
the terms Of the Algeciras act. We have
TO execute a mandate which has been con-
tided to us. and We are firmly decided not
10 go beyond it's limits. and in no case
will we be pushed into a policy of con-
quest or Of adventure
And NJ. Pichon continued. pleasantly:
II must tell YOU l am not prophet. but
If have not foretold the events that have
happened at Fee j was sure before my
departure that something would happen In
Morocco before my return. Chance has
willed 1t that whenever am absent some
Incident is sure to happen IN the Cherinan
empire. Six months ago ] was absent on
leave. Then happened the tragedy at
Casa Blanca Last week when ] was in
Grenada it was the incident at Fee. 1t