Evening star., 1924-07-22
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

Americans have heard much OF the
warning by George Washington against
permitting this country to become in
volved in "entangling alliances" with
European countries, yet, in 1906, we
entered into an alliance with practically
all or Europe when we participated in
the Algeciras conference and became a
party to the international administra-
ton OF Tangiers. Our interest therein
consisted In the protection Of some. 25
Americans and in economic coasidera-
tlons of limited commerce. TODAY
the European powers are asking us to
surrender the protective features of
tnat arrangement and participate in a
CONSULAR ,nn h committee OF control. while
we abandon our extraterritorial rights
and trust to justice of the organized
consular court Of that committee.
X v
In 1905, owing to the chaotic state Of
Morocco. the Sultan requested the DOW
ers to meet in conference at AIgeciras.
Morocco. and decide as to the best man
ner OF preserving the sovereignty of
his throne and recovering the pros-
perity, or at least the financial inde-
pendence of his country. When the de-
tails OF the conference act had been
agreed upon by the representatives of
the powers, the Sultan's representative
declined to sign it until it had been
accepted by his sovereign, and the
King od Italy was requested to procure
tho Sultans adherence, which he did
Conspicuous in its provisions as uIti-
fnateiy agreed upon was specific res
ervation by the Sultan:
Based in the first instance on three
principles, namely, maintenance Of our
sovereignty rights, of the independence
OF our aforesaid empire, and of eco
nomlc liberty in the matter of public
works"
The act Of Algeciras stipulated re-
forms as follows: (a) The organiza-
ton of the police; tb) the Illicit trade
in arms; Co the creation of a Moor
ish state bank; Cd an improved yield
of taxes and the creation of new
sources Of revenue; (e) the regula-
ton of the customs and suppression
of the fraud Of smuggling: (f) the
public services and the public works.
All these reforms" were to be con-
trolled by an international body of
diplomatic agents" representing the
several signatory powers, although
government was exercised in the
name of the Sultan. The proposed
years, with the sole duty tpoWer) of
disburSing treasurer of the empire
and financial agent of the govern
ment. This bank was to be given
priority in loans to the government.
though the government might also
apply to other banks for loans, in
case the Morocco state bank could
not accommodate it. The bank was
rocco but of France. Thus France
got practical control of the finances
of Morocco, in spite of the Sutan's
retention Of his empty sovereign
rights"
When the United States signed,
after the signiture of Germany, Aus
tria Hungary, Belgium, Spain, France,
Great Britain. Italy, the Netherlands,
Portugal, Russia and Sweden, our
ambassador to France. Henry White,
made the following reservation.
The government of the United
States, having no political interest IN
Morocco and no desire or purpose
this conference other than to secure
to all peoples the widest possible
equality of trade and privilege with
Morocco, and to facilitate the insti-
tuition of reforms in that country
tending to insure complete cordiality
of intercourse without, and stability
of administration within, for the
common good, declares that, in ac-
uuiescing in the regulations and
declarations of the conference, in be-
coming a signatory to the general act
of Algeciras, and in ac-
cepting the application of those reg
ulations and declarations to Ameri
can citizens and interests in Morocco,
il does so without assuming obliga-
ton or responsibility for the enforce
ment thereof"
At the state Department it is said
that this is the only instance In the
history of the United States in which