The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-09-01

- ECENTLY the ever uneasy Mo-
roccan cat once more leaped out
OF the diplomatic sack into
which It 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
a 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. It 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 it's integrity and
there are indications that this last
prize will soon1pass under European
control. Germpy,s possessions in
Africa are relatively Insignificant.
rather a burden than henefit IN her
financially. 1t i1-but natural that she
should wish to lave some say about
the future Of Morocco. Her anxiety
ia the greater because her possessions
IN other narta ofAha g,ohe arc doemod
,neuf,7cient - .,,enort tho nrotens,ona
Of German word.influence. II Ger.
many. when thds time comes for the
sultanate X IN =. to surrender her
claims Is Francs 'she Will take good
care to assume such q position in the
meantime that substantial compensa.
ton can be demanded. Morocco is
thus q pawn on the complicated chess
board Of diplomacy. But as such 1t
is very useful to Germany. For Ger
many does not mean to be left out IN
the future partitioning Of the globes
surface. Enormous tracts of America,
Africa and ASIA today speak English.
Spanish. French or Russian, or are
subject to these governments. even
small states. such as Holland and
Portugal, have considerable colonial
possessions. The Germans have only
been able at the last minute to bring
under thier scepter a few fragments
Of Insignificant extent and limited
value"
1t is not a source Of satisfaction to
Germany thatsit 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 a 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
Of some ambitious and imaginative
statesmen that a great new France
might in time rise CD the northern
coast Of Africa. The occupation of
Tunis marked the first definite step
after 1871 in he carrying out Of this
policv
Meantime ~, rn.,ard and France
were ono. ssas,. ravnt France had
,nhar,taS go. n.s" , certain mn.
ut,co, ,n.... s :. rarn. Thov were
NJ h,.h,, v' - Ia 11 ~. .h.v onah,od
h.r to dr;va 49, snoed ~ s srea,n with Ens.
,ona whar q 49, s.aas,on orosa Mo.
rocco fnrn,sh.d This occasion. For
800 miles ths western boundary of
Algeria marches with the eastern
frontier ~ Morocco The French
drove a thr,v;nv trade with Algeria
and through Algeria with morocco. a
trade. hovarer that was menaced by
the cnnstant trrhu,enca within the
Moroccan st.,. peace In Morocco
was varv r.csss.rv n France: order
cou,d no ,nssssd orlv nv European
noticing ~ 1onI therefore NJ Del.
ca..a +har .ar.,gr minister Of
France m.d. . overture. to england
which ra." 1s o - sn understanding
between the ..o = now ~, France en-.