The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

~
What is there behind the agreement
which has recently been concluded be
tween Germany and France on the sub
ject Of Morocco? In nearly every one OF
these international Understandings in
which the word treaty" IS avoided. so as
10 eliminate the necessity OF their dis
closure in Parliament for legislative rati-
1icatlon, there 10 almost invariably some
secret clause which often contains the
pith and real purport Of the entire con-
vention. There IS probably no civilized
power that Is rot bound by some hidden
ties and obligations Of this character. and
II is only rarely that they are actually
disclosed. although their existence may
be very strongly suspected
There are known to be as yet unreveal-
ed provisions In the Franco British cor
dale. and also in the notable agreement
concluded last year between Russia and
England which may be said 10 have
brought to conclusion feud that had
existed for nearly 6 hundred years. That
the public has been kept in the dark con-
cerning certain phases OF the Triple Al
lance has lately been demonstrated by
u.
showing that as far back as IN February.
1881, the Roman consulta. or department
of foreign affairs. writing in the name Of
the italian government. had agreed 10
Austria's Transformation OF her occupa-
ton OF Herzegovina and Bosnia into
actual sovereignty whenever Emperor
Francis Joseph found il necessary 10
make the change
In one word every international agree
Snent may be said TO have It's hidden
Joker" and IL is only the people who
are aware OF their tenor who could really
write with authority on matters Of for
eign policy. But they are bound 10 Sc
crecy. and thus il Is that the public. and
even to great extent politicians. remain
in the dark as 70 what is really going on
behind the scenes; that is TO say. in the
coulisses" OF diplomacy.
There are many reasons which lead TO
the conviction that there is far more -
the agreement just concluded between
France and Germany than appears on
the surface In the first place. the text
OF the agreement that has been given out
reads as II Il were merely the preamble
instead Of the actual convention itself.
Then. Toe. the concessions made therein
BY Germany 10 France with regard 10
Morocco are scarcely OF a nature 10 give
such profound qualification in the highest
quarters az Berlin. unless there were
much more than officially disclosed. For.
judging merely from the face OF the docu-
ment, Germany consents 10 France-s en-
Joyment OF political predominance in the
Moorish empire. which three years ago
she resisted almost 20 the point OF war.
and contents herself with equality of
commercial rights and complete freedom
OF trade IN Morocco, which France has
always been ready TO recognize.
In short. Germany agrees TO France's
so-called ''Tunification'' Of Morocco. and
completely withdrsWs from her former
position. And yet Emperor William and
his leading statesmen and diplomats are
congratulRting themselves over the result
Of the negotiations. and do not make any
attempt 20 conceal their extreme salts
faction. which has taken the form Of the
bestowal OF the highest orders upon the
negotiators, and in n message OF feIici-
tstion from the Emperor 20 Prince Rado-
lin. his ambassador at Paris. couched in
terms OF the most enthusiastic spprecia-
ton.
All this tends to confirm the belief that
the official version Of the agreement be-
tween Germany and France on the sub
Sect Of Morocco, which has been printed
sn the newspapers on both sides OF the
Atlantic. IS. as I have mentioned above.
merely the preamble OF a much more
important understanding between the
two countries; OF an understanding which
puts an end 10 the latent enmity which
has existed ever since the days OF Fred
erick the Great. and even from still more
remote times. between the Teutons and
the Gauls
II means that the necessity until now
imposed upon the two governments TO vfr-
tually bankrupt themselves in maintain
Ing ever-increasing armaments against
one another has come 20 an end. and
that the probability OF war between Ger
many and France. which has been re-
garded IS inevitable sooner or later ever
since the peace OF Versailles IL. ISL no
longer exists.
That the terms Of the secret clauses of
the agreement should be withheld from
the public is only natural For one Of
Its most important features must neces-
sarily be a virtual abandonment by
France Of its determination TO reconquer
Paris would venture 70 openly admit this.
And yet the necessity Of relegating 10
oblivion the Chauvinist policy Of La
Revanche'' appeals to every thoughtful
FrenChman Of the present day.
Prior 20 $50 the people OF Alsace and
Lorraine were justly accounted as the
least loyal Of the provinces OF the French
empire. They were always a source OF
trouble TO the Partisan government no
matter what the character Of the latter.
and were essentially German. in Ian
guage and temperament. To-day. nearly
forty years after the annexation OF the
two provinces by Germany. they are
more Teutonized than ever and were
they to be restored to France. they
would be to -er a cause Of more embar-
rassment and trouble than before
Premier Clemenceau realizes that even
under the most favorable circumstances
- would be impossible 70 recover the so
called Reichsland except at the cost Of
a terrible war. which would drain the
resources Of France 10 the point Of ex-
haustion ana ruin. The provinces are not
worth, In his eyes. TO France the onerous
sacrifices in blood treasure. and in in
jury 10 trade and industry which their
acquisition would entail. Many sensible
Frenchmen quietly admit this. but not
for publication. Prime Minister Clemen-
ceeu is apparently bolder and by binding
his government TO a definite abandonment
OF Alsace and Lorraine TO Germany, and
10 a policy from which every idea Of
Ia Revanche' is eliminated. he has been
able 70 obtain for his country very i'm
pOrtant concessions from Germany else
where. concessions that are bound 10
prove Of immense political and economic
value 10 France; first and foremost
among them the virtual consent OF Ger
many TO the conversion OF Morocco into
a sort Of French Egypt. France having