Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-05-03

Morocco. Now that she has q
free hand she will be- able to
proceed with her long-deferred
projects, particularly in the CEN
trail belt from Casablanca through to
Algeria, toward the occupation OF
which she has already made formida-
BILE beginning. Most important OF
these projects, and probably first to
receive attention, is construction OF q
port near Casablanca and laying of a
railroad from this port to connect
with the Algerian system on the east.
Having come to agreement with
England and Spain, France was on
the road to dominating affairs In the
land of the Parasol six years ago,
when Emperor William made his dra.
matte visit to Tangier, and German
opposition manifested itself SO acute
lys that the conference at Algeciras
had to be called to prevent a Euro
pean war. The results Of that con-
ference seemed to bottle up French
ambitions indefinitely, but in reality
they have gone forward quietly and
partially. Now that they can proceed
openly and unrestrictedly 1t will be
with the immense advantage OF sub
stantial beginning from which to
work. ,s..--@.-,e. b. ~4~
The treaty OF Algeciras, signed in
1906, aimed to give Europeans I
chance to develop Morocco as indi-
viduals while keeping their hands on
as nations. Its purpose was to main
tain that excellent but unstable con-
dition known as the status quo" Ex-
cept for limited European control
in the eight "open ports," there was
to be no government In Morocco but
that Of the sultan. Unfortunately
there was nothing in the treaty to
maintain the government Of the sui
tan. There was nothing in Morocco
to- maintain 1t, either. For the five
years since the treaty went into ef-
feet Ell Mogreb has been the scene OF
perpetual Instructions and unrest.
remarkable even for that country of
frequent warfare. In course OF this
short period there have been two sui
tans on the throne and at least two
formidable pretenders for their Jobs.
Much Of the time 1t has been impos-
sible for Europeans to live in or even
visit points in the country other than
the eight open ports"
Friends of Morocco are not sorry,
therefore, that after playing blind
mans bun behind the treaty OF Al
geciras for five years, the powers OK
Europe seem disposed to let it pass
into oblivion. The era OF individual
rather than national enterprise which
It aimed to Introduce in Morocco
might have been ideal II it had been
realized. It failed practically because
conditions have been such that few
individuals cared to risk life or prop
erty in the turmoil.
Warshlps Shell a Town.
Meanwhile France has been making
hay even though the sun refused to
shine. She has accepted such few
rays as fell on the field, and made the
best Of them. Her first chance came
only a year after the signing OF the
treaty of Algeciras, when the killing
of nine Europeans employed in the
construction of jetty by French
company at Casablanca gave excuse
for dispatching warships and Smelling
the town until the streets were
strewn with dead Moors.
Under terms Of the treaty France
and Spain had been delegated jointly
as protectors of the lives and property
of Europeans In Casablanca, one Of
the eight open ports" where they
were guaranteed right to reside and
trade. France promptly took advan-
tage of this to land troops and gar
rison the town after the lombard
ment. She has garrisoned it ever
since. Not only that, but (acting al
ways as protector Of Europeans in
Casablanca, OF course) she began a
campaign of pacific penetration" in
to the surrounding country and for q
year engaged in continual warfare
against the nearby tribes, employing
for the purpose at one time as many
as $4,000 soldiers. In the end it left
her master Of not far from 5000
square miles of territory in the rich
est and most strategic location in
Morocco, a position which she has
maintained and strengthened ever
since.
Intrenched on two sides of the coun-