Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
WHAT WILL FOLLOW THE
FRANCO GERMAN TREATY?

which support the German Kamerun, the
Belgian kongo and the French Kongo2
For me-" says NJ. Hanotaux II remain
Of that negotiation at Berlin, which was
oofh slow and hurried. were as bad for
Germany as for France"
There was bad Erection, false paciicas
ton. sham satisfaction. Every one was
dissatisfied, every one Is restless and
disquieied, France. Germany. Spain, Tur-
Key, Italy. Belgium and England.
80
According to NJ. Hanotaux, and DESPITE
what is said, all the interested parties
will find themselves dis
Unsatisfactory gusted with this bastard
A~-..-. treaty. Its solution Is
agreement. neither equ table nor
durable and has no other reason than the
mpotent lassitude Of those who imagined
1t. That parliament may ratify this
treaty. or not the combination Is not
viabie and must be taken up anew.
The Algeciras act it should be recalled.
conferred no special role to Germany. and
Germany for a fact has no part In the
expense which France. for example. has
incurred in Morocco. German rights.
therefore. In that country have all the
appearance Of dreams. The concession
that Germany has assumed to accord to
France is to leave the country free not
to annex Morocco. but to protect IL. free
to substitute for policy of penetration
policy Of Intervention; free to plant her
flag alongside that Of the sultan's. What
may that enterprise not cost? What will
1t in any case profit France?
The resignation of Herr Won Lindequist.
minister Of the colonies. has been hereto
fore mentioned. but its significance. not
then apparent. has been explained.
Ministers In Germany, IL may be repeat
ed. hold their Offices not by the author
ity of the reichstag. but by the authority
OF the emperor: consequently when n
minister retires II Is an affair altogether
Of the emperor and against his policy
The reasons assigned for the RESIGNATION
Of the minister Of the colonies Is that the
part OF the Kongo coded by the treaty n
without value, consisting OF brush and
marsh. and where the terrible sleeping
Sickness reigns. Herr Won Lindequtst
maintains that Germany should have re-
n ined in Morocco.
Il. Gallant. president Of the council OF
ministers. In q speech In the chamber. Ia
reproached by his adversaries N the
chamber with using q most unfortunate
phrase The minister found that Africa
was badly established and partitioned
and he invited the powers to prepare
rules for an accounting and EXCHANGE
that the president of the council had I'm
view equitable exchanges of African ter
ritory with England.
France, it is clear. recognized Spain's
zone of influence ard NJ. Delcasse. for
mer minister of foreign af-
Spanish fairs. is reproached with
n having made the Sec. ct trea-
nisnts' ty fe.stipulat ons of which
have oeen published these days and Will
be .ventilated in the debates in the cham
Der.
The Revue des Deux Mondes pleads the
cause of Spain so far as to counsel that
Spain be dealt with In q gentle and
friendly manner. At Algeciras was not
Spain friendly and faithful to her en-
gaeements with France? France had
given her parole to Rome. as she had to
Madrid Franc should keep hei engage
ments. even at the price Of some sacri-
flee. The friendship of Spain was worth
the sacrifice
The question of Spain's zones OF in
fiuence, which is a side Issue nominally
of the Franco German treaty, but really
q very important factor, is not the only
obstacle which confronts France but all
Belgian Kongo Is at stake In this Fran
co-German treaty, which has created
more interest at Brussels perhaps than
at Berlin or Paris
the fact that Germany's chief aspirations
were to penetrate Central Africa a.ons
the Belgian Kongo frontier. and again
in seeking to obtain from France the
promise that the latter would never
exercise her right of presumption OF the
Belgian Kongo without concert or notice
to the government at Berlin.
Germany did not succeed entirely in
her designs, but she did obtain the con-
cession to reach the Obanghi and the
kongo. but France positive refused to
consent to Germany's proposition to con-
slider the question Of her mortgage on the
Belgian KongO. Nevertheless the final
clause of the Kongo agreement stipulates
that should there be q proposition to
modify the Kongo frontiers an exchange
Of views should be made between the
nations signatories Of the act of Ber-
lin Of 1885.
Germany. 1t is reported. did not succeed
as she proposed. But the question has
been opened and Germany has at least
disclosed a Konso ambition which has ex-
cited just alarm at Brussels.
Germany has prepared the way for any
future action. She is bent upon creating
vast CO onial empire
Germany's which circumstances may
-. permit her to acquire.
AmU1tIVn. The contact with such q
negnbor renders Belgium uneasy and
alarmed And this uneasy feeling anu
alarm Brussels shares with London.
which may regard Germany's peaceful
penetration Of Africa with something akin
to dismay. What a boomerang. indeed.
has proved the intrigues at London which
ended in driving the Kongo Free State
out of business! Now the Lado enclave
is possessed by the British government.
but at what cost! Germany not only
dreams Of cutting the road from Cape
to Cairo, but Of reaching the Indian
ocean by the transafrican railways al
ready In course Of construction by Ger
many.
Thus the open distrust OF the Franco
German treaty at Brussels and the secret
feeling OF hostility at London will each
count for something In the opposition
which Is being prepared In the French
press and chamber over the treaty.
The Echo de Paris contains an article
on the situation signed by NJ. Jules
nala foase depufv Who hegfns nv