The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-09-01

- ECENTLY the ever uneasy Mo-
u roccan cat once more leaped out
Of the diplomatic sack into
which 1t was hastily thrust by
the panicstricken powers at Algeciras.
AS result France. Germany
and England have been filled with
the most dreary forebodings, and
all because Germany saw fit to send
q gunboat to a little known but grow
ing port on the coast of Africa.
The coast of Africa has long been
one Of the storm centers Of European
diplomacy. II tempted the DICTIONARIES
OF old Rome and awakened in the
bosom Of Napoleon splendid dreams OF
empire. The colonizing nations OF
the present, especially England and
France, have lost men and sunk money
In its conquest Morocco is the last
tempting bit of land on the northern
coast to maintain its integrity and
there are indications that this last
prize will soon pass under European
control. Germany's possessions In
Africa are relatively Insignificant.
Iuluci a bShSht w NJ
financially. II is but natural that she
should wish to have some say about
the future OF Morocco. Her anxiety
Is the greater because her possessions
In other parts Of the globe are deemed
insufficient to support the pretensions
of German world-influence. II Ger
many. when the time comes for the
sultanate to fall. is to surrender her
claims to France. she will take good
care to assume such a position In the
meantime that substantial compensa.
ton can be demanded. Morocco is
thus a pawn on the complicated chess
board of diplomacy. But as such It
Is very useful to Germany.
II is not a source OF satisfaction to
Germany that II was the triumph of
her own arms which indirectly result
ed In the expansion of French terri
tory. France had established a pro-
tectorate in Algeria in 1880. but had
taken on the whole rather languid
interest In the province. After the
reverses of the Franco-Prussian war.
however. a definite policy OF colonial
expansion to the immediate south was
adopted as the surest way Of regain
ing lost prestige. II was the dream
statesmen that a great new France
might In time rise on the northern
coast of Africa. The occupation Of
Tunis marked the first definite step
after 1871 in the carrying out OF this
policy.
Meantime both England and France
were engaged In Egypt. France had
inherited from Napoleon certain po-
litical interests in Egypt. They were
not highly regarded, but they enabled
her to drive a good bargain with Eng
land when the occasion arose. Mo-
rocco furnished this occasion. For
500 miles the western boundary of
Algeria marches with the eastern
frontier of Morocco. The French
drove a thriving trade with Algeria
and through Algeria with Morocco, q
trade, however. that was menaced by
the constant turbulence within the
Moroccan state. Peace In Morocco
WoB very Universally W xtohScs oiucI
could be insured only by European
policing. In 1904. therefore. NJ. Del
casse, then foreign minister of
France, made overtures to England
which resulted In an understanding
between the two powers. France en-
gagged to recognize the exceptional po-
sition of England In Egypt. and In
return for this concession England
agreed to leave France free hand
In Morocco. This was the so-called
Anglo-French agreement II was deep
" resented by Germany.
The resentment Of the Wilhelm
strasse, after smoldering for some
months. eliminated In 1905 In the
fiery outbursts Of the kaiser at Tan
der. This outburst presently Get
Europe by the ears. for the kaiser do.
clared that Germany was prepared to
protect her commercial rights In and
10 guarantee the political integrity Of
Morocco. This amounted to an ad-
mission that Germany distrusted the
motives a France. choosing 10 believe