Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-09-22

tory. 1t looked for a time as II
France and Germany were to fly at
each others throats. A conference of
European powers was called, which
met at Ageciras, to hear the griev-
ances of Germany.
France claimed a predominant In
terest in Morocco by reason of the
fact that Morocco Immediately ad-
joined a French province. which suf-
fered as a result of Moroccan convul-
sions. The commercial interests Of
France In the snltanate were large;
and, moreover. Morocco directly con-
fronted France across the Mediter-
ranean. For these reasons France
claimed the right to see that order
was preserved In the Shereefian en-
pire.
Against these claims Germany ad-
vanced her theory of internationalism
II Morocco proved troublesome, let all
the nations take hand In discourag-
ing her. 1t would be easier so to Sc
cure equal commercial rights among
nations and to maintain the open door.
II France were to be allowed to police
Morocco 1t would be but a short step
to French possession.
A settlement was finally reached a
year after the kaiser's visit to Tan
gier. The powers decided that the
sultanate should be policed by troops
under French and Spanish officers,
jointly answerable to the sultan and
the diplomatic corps at Fer. In Tan
gier and Casablanca both French and
Spanish officers were stationed. Spain
was intrusted with the exclusive DO
Icing of Tetuan. on the Mediterran-
can, and Larache. on the Atlantic: to
France fell the policing Of the At
lantic ports Of Mogodor. Sam. Ma
zagan and Rabat On the financial
side France Jared equally well, being
allowed to hold three out of fifteen
shares in theNnew Moroccan bank. no
other European nation being allowed
to control more than one.
France had got practically every
thing she had right to expect The
special interests of France In Moroc-
CO, recognized by the powers Of 1906.
were specifically admitted by Germany
in February. 1909. in what is known
as the Franco-German agreement. In
that document Germany admitted that
she possessed only economic interests
In Morocco and that France was
bound to bestow on her only such CON-
mercial and Industrial rights as were
enjoyed by otherlnations there. This
was regarded as formal conclusion
OF peace between Germany and
France so far as the Moroccan i'm
broglio was concerned.
Yet recent events snow with gufi-
cient clearness mat neithe~ the Al
geciras conference nor the Franco
German agreement has disposed, as
was confidently asserted at the time,
OF the troublesome Moroccan prob
lem. All that was needed was a spark
TO kindle the old resentment into
FINE. That spark was afforded by
the recent revolt Of tribesmen In Mo-
rocco and the investment of Fee. Ger
many was pleased to regard the In
reference OF France to save the sui
tan as gratuitous. No European lives.
Germany contended. were imperiled
by the uprising. There was no call
for French troops to march to the re-
lief of Fez The military demonstra-
ton was only another attempt to ex-
tend the French zone Of influence In
Morocco. Further complications were
introduced by the Spanish occupation
of Alkazar and the resultant friction |
with French officers. France suspect
ed Spain OF playing into the hands OF
Germany and although Spain dis
claimed any such purpose and prompt
ly apologized. the tension was by no
means relieved. The upshot OF the
new trouble was that Germany sent
a gunboat to Agadir and landed ma
rines. Thus for the second time Ger
many brought on crisis which has
been occupying the diplomats of six
countries
Altogether the situation tends to en-
plastic the magnitude of the peril |
which lies In Morocco.