The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23

| were DICK ne Hluue ms HTbt move III
a game of international checkers
which stirred the whole diplomatic
world at time when most statesmen
were looking forward to quiet sum-
mer vacation
| The question naturally arises: What
does Germany want in Morocco? And
the most correct answer Is probably
| expressed in the one word: Some
thing" The German chancellor OF
empire is disciple of Bismarck, in so
far that his foreign policy has been
| true to the doctrine OF compensations.
| His firm belief Is that Germany. be-
cause of her size. strength and i'm
portance among tho nations is justi-
| ned in demanding a share in the evo-
luton of the world as a whole and in
claiming compromising advantages for
any territorial or political aggrandize-
ment on the part of another great
power. That Is the latest phase OF the
German "Weltpolitik" This doctrine
was undoubtedly known TO the French
Department OF Foreign Affairs and
| may have stimulated the feeling which
has recently found place in the minds
| of certain French statesmen-a feel
Ing that 1t might perhaps be better.
| sistent German opposition to the policy
| OF penetration ."pacifque" and other
wise. Various brides have been sug-
| Scsted. Most of them have adumbrated
"rectifications" of colonial frontiers
They have not. however, been very
cordially received. In papers very
| amenable to W!lhelmstrasse control 1t
has been emphaticalIy stated that they
could not he regarded as equivalents
for allowing France a free hand in the
Shereehan Empire.
But Germany has not satisfied her
self with merely rejecting the bats
held out to her She has also lndi-
Gated IN very clear way at least one
object which she would be inclined 10
consider as an adequate price for her
good will And that Is harbor on
the West coast of Morocco. 1t Is this
fact which lends the descent on
, Agadir its significance In spite OF all
pro5estations that the occupation OF
that port is merely a temporary meas
ure 10 protect German commercial In
terests, and that 1t is in no way direct.
ed against either the integrity OF
Morocco or the policy OF Franco. IL is
oiihcult to resist the conclusion that
the mission of the Panther is part OF
ceretully-laid scheme which mas as
It's objects the forcible approximation
OF one piece OF compensation in case
another equally satisfactory should
not be forthcoming elsewhere The
cruiser will doubtless lie idle in the
roadstead for some weeks. or II MAJ
be months. waiting for the subsistence
OF disturbances threatening European
| interests the existence OF which In
all other parts OF Morocco. Germany
has consistently denied from the out
Get Then. In or out OF the natural
order OF events, some trouble viii &C.
cur on the short. the Panther Will be
Joined by other vessels. bluejackcts or
| troops Will be landed camp Will be
| formed, and there will be another
pause. II is hardly necessary 20 CON
tinue the process OF inference further
one Of Blsmark's guiding maxims was
that the difficulty Is 10 get in the thin
end OF the wedge. II once the world
has got used TO that-and II speedily
aecustoms itself TO anything rest
can be driven home without exciting
particular protest or even attention
There is, however one other aspect
OF the Agadir incident which should
not be lost sight OF. Germany is on
the eve OF n general election, which
Is looked forward to in government
circles with feelings of dead. IL not.
indeed OF panic few days ago Il
seemed highly probable that the So
| cialists, who have throughout strenu-
ously opposed the imperial policy of
naval and colonial expansion and all
the various manifestations OF Welt
poiitik." would return to the chamber
with over hundred mandates. and
thus be the strongest party In H. In
such strength they would have been
able, seriously TO hamber the govern
ment In its plans and indeed a situa-
ton might easily have been created in
which continuation of Germany's re-
cent developments would have been
Impossible. History and experience
have, however, taught German states
men that the most effective antidote
to Socialism is a national rallying
cry. especially IL 1t Is based on the
traditional hostility of France. Ger
many was for so many centuries the
chief battlefield OF Europe that the
dread of the invader became part of
the intellectual constitution of the peo-
pie. and even its consciousness of its
present strength has done little to
eliminate this feeling. Consequently
nothing so quickly makes the nation
forget Its domestic dissensions and its
grievances against the government as
the sense of international insecurity
For this reason n little diplomatic les
son over Morocco will undoub eddy
be very useful to Herr Rethman -Holi-
veg during the next six months.
That there is any popular demand in
Germany for an aggressive policy.
either In Morocco OF elsewhere, can
hardly he pretended. The great bulk
of the nation Is undoubtedly sincere
~ anxious for peace. and would not
be at all disturbed in its slumbers il
France were simply to put Morocco in
her pocket
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