The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-09-05
MORROCO AND
ITS POSITION
OF GREAT STRATEGIC IMPOR.
TAkCE TO SEVERAL EURO.
PEAN NATIONS
COVETED BY NATIONS

OO - LIZ - lVlA AOItO
New York, Sept. 4.-The Morroc-
can question, though frequently re-
ferred to in the daily press of late,
has little significance to the ordi-
nary reader. 1t might appear that
Germany was making big fuss
about very small matter and
bunting in" and creating a distur-
bance over a trifiing and insignifi-
can't part of the earth's crust.
But when it is known that Moroc-
co IS larger than the German en-
pire itself, it takes on a new light
and gives reason for the concern of
the other powers.
The greatest German authority on
Morocco, Professor Fischer, de-
clares after thirty years occupation
with Moroccan affairs and after
three journeys through the country
that he has arrived at the convic-
ton that the world political posi-
ton OF Morocco is SO great that the
State, which succeeds in taking it,
will, through its possession, receive
such an enormous increase in pow
er that all other States, especially
Great Rritian, Spain and Germany,
will feel it as an unbearab1e hard
ship. Per contra, the possession OF
Morocco would be of particular val
ue to Germany, especially if she
should wish to strike at France,
Great Britain or the United States.
In the absence of any such appar-
ent intention the chances of Ger
many being content with something
less than a foothold in North Africa
10 rd0 fol i1lu
A comprehensive and enlightening
account of the reason for and tn
causes in the Morocco, dispute are
contained in the following from the
New York Journal of Commerce:
The recurrence of the question of
Morooco as a source of information
al disturbance is a reminder of how
nea" exhaustion are those sections
of the earth's surface which have
MT been pre-empted for the fnan-
cial and commercial exploitation of
the great powers of the world. The
partition of Equatorial and Southern
Africa was justified on the ground
that barbarous or semi-barDarous
rule does not carry with it any right
of ession-that a race that ranks
low in the scale of what is called
civilization must perforce be sub
ject to one occupying higher
plane. There can be no question that
regions in Northern Africa, which,
under Roman rule, were among the
known world, have -relapsed under
the rule Of Moslem Turks, Moors and
Algerines into a condition Of COM
parative barbarism and poverty.
Early last century Great Britain,
Holland and the United States had
TO h Of not
for their flags from the pirates Of
the Barbary States. But France, was
still openly defied by the Algerines
and Moors, since the Turkish deys
and beys of the Algerian Coast
and the Sultan of Morocco believed
| that France had not the requisite
| naval strength to punish their in
| science. Petty attacks on French
| shipping continued for some years
after the Napoleonic wars were over
| and French consuls we're treated
scant respect. Reprisals began under
| the government of Charles K. and
were continued under that of Louis
Philippe, SO that by the close of
1880 the French had taken posses
| sion of all the leading seaports of
| Algeria between the frontiers Of
Tunis and Morocco, and by 1884 the
| French government had deliberately
| assumed the responsibility for con-
quering and administering Algeria
from the Mediterranean to the Sa-
hara. 1t was found necessary in 1874
| to administer a sharp lesson to the
| Sultan of Morocco. This had the de-
| sired effect, and from that time on
no serious interference in Algeria
was attempted from across the bor-
der. Thenceforth, as competent au-
thority declares, and until 1904 on]v
the opposition of Great Britain and
| of Spain stood between France and
| the conquest of Morocco. With the
| conclusion of the Anglo-French un-
derstanding even that obstacle was
| removed, and it seemed as if France
was at last to have free hand in
| North Africa
The visit of the Kaiser to Tan
giers in the spring of 1905 brought
| a new and disturbing element into
| the situation. A declaration from the
Emperor of Germany that the inde-
pendence of Morocco was matter
| that must ever remain the object Of
his keenest regard not only f1uttered
the dovecotes of European diplomacy
| but precipitated a ministerial crisis
| from which France emerged not a
little Inundated and cowed.
| The French Minister of Foreign
Affairs, M. De1casse, proposed to deal
| agressive1y with German interfer
| ence in Morocco, only to be sacrific-