Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-24

|
points OF the conflict over Morocco. The
actual situation foreshadows a rupture
between France and Spain.
That the negotiations were not pro-
crossing favorably was manifested by a
dtspat h dated
Spanish Troops Madrid, 27th ultlmo.
~ Ali. conf ing the
~ rumor that Spanish
troops had occupied Arziia and estab-
lished there a wireless station.
This dispatch apparently decided
France that Spain had no intention OF
concluding an agreement based upon
the Franco-German treaty Of Novem-
Der 4, 1911. which recognized. In ex-
change for the valuable concessions of
the kongo territory to Germany. the
protectorate Of France over all Mo-
rocco.
A dispatch dated Paris, 18th instant.
announced that NJ. Jonnart, former
governor general OF Algeria had been
appointed French resident general Of
Morocco. This being the first move in
the organization of the French pro-
tectorate, organization held in allegiance
by reason of the negotiations with Spain
The appointment of NJ. Jonnart. It ap-
pears. was made the 18th instant. In
consequence of q meeting of the French
ministry at the Elysee, presided over
by President Fallieres. 1t was decided
unanimously that SPANS proposals
could not be accepted. These proposals
were considered as categorfc refusal
on the part of the Spanish government
to accept the territorial compensations
formulated by France.
The dispatch added: The situation
may be seriously complicated If France
occupies the territories which she
claims in the Spanish zone. and If
Spain should occupy Tetouan and Ar
lila
AS we have seen, Spain has occupied
Arzila. and, under the circumstances.
France must regard it as an act OF DELI
ance.
In connection with the foregoing and
the present r,1mors Of a recrudescence of
bad feeling expressed in the English and
German press. a dispatch dated London.
March 16. announces that the Daily Tele-
graph prints that morning the following,
under the title 1.-The Peace of Europe:
In diplomatic circles the European
situation provokes great anxiety: 1t Is
a notorious fact that the possibility or
crisis has engaged the serious attention OF
more than one Of the great powers. 1t is
a fact, also. that the break in the Franco
Spanish negotiations and the rumor OF
an arrangement concluded between Rus
STA and Italy against Turkey has pro-
voked a general feeling Of uneasiness.
A dispatch from Paris Of same date ap-
pears to be wholly sensational 1t declares
that Spain desires to annex Portugal. and
this is the cause of SPANS obstruction
in the matter Of her negotiations with
France Spain holds according to the
dispatch, that Portugal is in complete
to interfere. To anticipate or prevent that.
Spain would withdraw her troops from
Morocco to establish order in Portugal.
The value of the foregoing may be
| found in the state of the public mind
rather than in the text of the dispatch.
That the public mind is disturbed in al
most every quarter Of Europe the very
grave and serious journal, the Gaulois,
gives proof. The Gaulois writes:
"It would be going too far to declare
war against Spain because we could not
come to an arrangement with her. But
we must protect our interests and our
prevent our taking the necessary meas
ureS without troubling ourselves about a
disagreeable neighbor."
At this stage Of the game. which has
an ugly look from every point, we may
look backward with interest.
| Spain pretends. despite the radical
changes in the whole question Of Morocco.
that she has complete
SPANS Claim liberty of action in her
rr. zone. and for a fact she
III MoAocco' has been accorded that.
She has even exceeded these limits and
has assumed an attitude Of aggression
wholly inexcusable. The restrictions as
to SPANS sovereignty depend less by
France than by the Cherifian authorities
and certain International obligations
which have not been entirely wiped out.
AS for the question of the customs cob
lections, it was England which proposed
the transactional solution to which
France rallied. Spain accepted after some
hesitation. The delegates Of the two
countries met in Madrid to find a basis
for an arrangement.
In the conference of February p the
questions Of the administration of the
Spanish zone and the railway Tangier-
Fee were discussed. In the same meet
ing NJ. Garcia Prieto presented coun-
ter project, and, on the other hand, NJ.
Geoffray explained the demands of
France for territorial compensations.
which may be resumed as follows: First,
cession of the southern sphere except
the enclave of Ifni and the adjacent terri
tory for ten kilometers thereabout, ex-
cepting that comprised between % and
q degrees 40 minutes latitude north of
the Rio del Orc; second. the left bank of
the Loukkos within ten kiometers of
Larache; third. cession of the port of
Cap de PEau' and the mouth of the
Moulouia; fourth, rectif1cation of the
frontier in the region of Ouessan. the di-
viding line of the waters passing more
to the north than indicated on the maps
In the negotiations Spain maintained
with insistence the question of the Mo-
roccan debt. She held that France should
renounce her pretension to control Mo-
roccan finances; that Spain would guar
antee the payment of the debt for the
part belonging to the Spanish zone.
France could not make such concessions
under the conditions.
The French press has supported gen.
orally the government attitude OH that
point. France had no interest in inter-
vening in the Spanish zone. The guaran-
tees offered Spain were sufficient and
the holders of the imperial debt could
not suffer any loss.
"It is no less true" says the Revue
Hebdomadaire, that we are not permit
ted to break the contract which binds us
with them and it does not belong to us to
transfer to a third party the obligations
which weigh upon u.s. If France should
fail to keep her engagement she would
in doing so inflict q fatal blow upon her
credit"
1t was then that England interviewed.
She proposed an international commits
sion to arrange the
England'S Plan Moroccan debt and
this would perhaps
commission in which all interests
would be represented could authorize
France Judicially to transfer to Spain
mart Of her responsibilities. This PROPOSE