Evening star., 1924-07-22

we have joined with other nations
In the administration of any ter
| ritory.
The whole story OF political in
trigue leading up to this interna-
tional act of Algeciras of 1906 is too
| complicated to outline here. but it's
general nature is set forth by Ed
mund D. Morel, an English publicist
| who has specialized in African at
| fairs as honorary secretary OF the
kongo Reform Association and editor
| traces to the Moroccan conspiracy.
| with its international bargains
parceling out territory of other peo-
pie, some of the lines of interna-
tional cleavage leading to the climax
IN the world war. In his pamphlet,
writes:
With a calculated cruelty and
perfdy which has seldom been ex-
| ceeded in the record of European
diplomacy, the rulers OF Morocco
were bullied, tricked. exploited. led
to borrow large sums at usurious in
terest. mulcted in preposterous
claims for compensation on the least
possible provocation. Little by little
European finance dug its grip into
eHtTdIlS uHlll all national
resources OF revenue were hypothe-
Gated to pay interest to European
bondholders. First one piece OF ter
ritory was flched, then another.
The authority of the Sultan was sys-
tematically undermined. QuarreIs
were forced upon the unhappy coun-
try upon every possible occasion.
Thousands upon thousands of Moors
were slain. Their land was extorted
and Wrested from them by scandaIous
transactions. both financial and polIt-
ical. Finally Morocco sank into
bloody cnaos. Its independence and
integrity disappeared. 1t became d
French protectorate, in defiance of
solemn treaty obligations.
The Moors have lost their independ
ence and their country. But, If it be
any satisfaction to them, they have
their revenge. For the legacy of IN
ternationa i'll will to which their
treatment gave rise must count as
one of the most powerful of the orig
mating causes of a war which finds
Great Britain and Germany at one
another's throats"
Now comes a proposal from France,
Spain and Great Britain to abolish
the act of Algeciras and substitute
consular committee OF control,
consisting of the consuls of the
powers signatory to the Aigeciras
act. The alleged need for change In
the form of International govern
ment is the elimination of Germany
by the treaty of Versailles and the
expansion Of French Influence" In
Morocco. The consular committee is
to be organized, according to the
relative importance of the powers, as
to their TangierS interests-t'rance
will have four members, Spain tour,
Britain three. Italy two, America and
each of the other signatorleS one.
The consular committee of control
will constitute the Senate of the Mo-
roccan legislative body, and repre-
sentatives appointed by the Sultan
will form the lower body. The new
plan is to go into effect August l,
taking over the actual government of
1000, 900 Moors and 11.243 aliens. The
aliens consist of Americans. 25; Span
iards. 5000: French, 1000; British,
Clio; Italians, $50; Portuguese, 200,
and Dutch, so. 1t is said that in some
way France holds a dominating pow
er, in spite of the equality between
its representation and that of Spain,
although there are four SpaniardS to
every Frenchman in Morocco.
The act of Algeciras gave the right
to each signatory to try its own ma
tionals in it's own consular courts.
That right now will be abolished, and
all aliens will be tried in a court ap-
pointed by the Committee of Control.
Our State Department protests that
the new plan, with its division of
authority, is anomalous, for the con-
sular committee will be accountable
to no one power and no power will
become responsible for its acts. How
definition of certain of the provisions,
while continuing our alliance in the
joint administration, wherein we are
powerless to exercise influence except
in the ratio of l to 16.
Copyright, 1924. bs Paul V. Collins.)