The Washington herald., 1911-07-12
MOROCCO PROVES 4 THORN
IN THE SIDE OF FRANCE

Again the impulsive and easily ex-
cited French press has failed in its ef-
fort to create an international compli-
cation, simply because there were no
complications. The bombastic warning
Of prelude to crisis in the relations
between Germany and France fell fat
But Europe, nevertheless, was affected
by the announcement in Paris papers
that the Berlin foreign Office had sent
peremptory dispatch to the French
government on the subject of Morocco.
'forbidding'' further prosecution OF the
French expedition against Fee.
The truth is that France, according to
the stipulation of the Algeciras confer
ence, had notified Germany of her inten-
tons and the meaning of the movement
of the French troops in Africa. For some
time the unpopular young Sultan Of Mo-
rocco has been contending weakly with a
revolt among his more fanatical subjects.
They seem to have shut him up in Fez
with poorly equipped force and to have
conducted a sanguinary siege. Meantime
the Sultan's brother Mulai ell Zin, was
proclaimed at Mekinez either as SOW
ereign Of the empire or as representa-
tive Of ruler yet unsolicited. Exact
news from the interior of Morocco being
difficult to obtain, the German foreign
Office had derived impressions of these
events somewhat prejudicIal TO French
policy
If there really had been any "apprehen-
sions" in Germany, they were due to the
temperance OF Theophils Delcasse In
a cabinet that commanded the confidence
Of the French Diet. The German press
all along has suspected Delcasse of in
tentions to foment discord between the
Elysee and the whiIhelmstrausse, and
perhaps 1t saw In the sudden march of
French troops to Fee a purpose to con-
quer Morocco.
No sooner had the French learned that
the Sultan of Morocco was besieged in his
capital than they organized a felief COL
umn from the Atlantic coast. Their mo-
tive was to prevent a massacre Of French
citizens, Of whom there are many in Fez
Attack from without, assisted by dis
affection within the city, would have
meant the downfall OF Fee and the over
throw of all semblance of order and au-
thority. That city included among its
defenders a small French force which
had been assisting the rightful Sultan
to maintain himself. An effort was made
by the French vice consul at Alcazar to
get a convoy through, but 1t was found
impossible. The only hope seemed to the
French authorities in Northern Africa
to consist OF a relieving force from the
coast. Such was. from the Paris point
OF view, the sequence Of events which
inspired in the German of1cial mind ap-
prehensions Of the significance Of the
foreign policy inaugurated by the ap-
pearance OF Theophile Delcasse In the
Monis cabinet. Deleasse believes In
''vigor"
France had no intention OF violating the
agreement entered into with Spain and
Germany at Algeciras. Through dipl6-
matte channels she Informed Germany
that the military expedition was one
of rescue only. The German chancellor
declared himself perfectly satisfied. and
that ended the bellicose efforts Of the
Paris papers.
The cause for this frantic desire of
France not to aggravate Germany is OBJ
vious- Germany is anxious for a parti-
ton Of Morocco. France is not; that Is,
not under prevailing conditions. Were
Morocco to be absorbed by the two
powers having predominating interests in
that country-France and Germany
France could not very we'll claim any
thing but the territory adjoining her
African possessions, Algiers and the pro-
Of Tunis. This would give Ger
many the coast line on the Atlantic, |
commanding the sea highway between |
Europe and the west and south of AZ
RIGA OF course, that Is exactly what |
Germany wants, and what France does |
not want her to have.
Germany appears to have the better !
right IN the Morocco issue Her claims |
IN Morocco are based upon treaties; those