First Moroccan Crisis The First Moroccan Crisis ( also known as the Tangier Crisis ) was an international crisis between March 1905 and May 1906 over the status of Morocco . Germany attempted to use the issue of Morocco ' s independence to increase frictions between France and the United Kingdom , as well as to advance German commercial interests in Morocco . They succeeded in their stated goal of assuring Moroccan independence , but failed to attract diplomatic support for their positions at the resulting international conference . The crisis worsened German relations with both France and the United Kingdom , and helped ensure the success of the new Anglo - French Entente Cordiale . It has been named as one of the Causes of World War I . Timeline of events . The Kaiser ' s visit . On March 31 , 1905 , Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany landed at Tangier , Morocco and conferred with representatives of Sultan Abdelaziz of Morocco The Kaiser declared he had come to support the sovereignty of the Sultan — a statement which amounted to a provocative challenge to French influence in Morocco . The Sultan subsequently rejected a set of French - proposed governmental reforms and issued invitations to major world powers to a conference which would advise him on necessary reforms . French Reaction ; Mobilization for War . Germany sought a multilateral conference where the French could be called to account before other European powers . The French foreign minister , Théophile Delcassé , took a defiant line , holding that there was no need for such a conference . Count Bernhard von Bülow , the German Chancellor , threatened war over the issue . The crisis peaked in mid - June . The French cancelled all military leave ( June 15 ) and Germany threatened to sign a defensive alliance with the Sultan ( June 22 ) . French Premier Maurice Rouvier refused to risk war with Germany over the issue . Delcassé resigned , as the French government would no longer support his policy . On July 1 , France agreed to attend the conference . The crisis continued to the eve of the conference at Algeciras , with Germany calling up reserve units ( December 30 ) and France moving troops to the German border ( January 3 ) . The Algeciras Conference . The Algeciras Conference was called to settle the dispute , lasting from January 16 to April 7 , 1906 . Of the 13 nations present , the German representatives found that their only supporter was Austria - Hungary . A German attempt at compromise was rejected by all but Austria - Hungary . France had firm support from Britain , Russia , Italy , Spain , and the United States . The Germans decided to accept a face - saving compromise agreement on March 31 , 1906 that was signed on May 31 , 1906 . France agreed to yield control of the Moroccan police , but otherwise retained effective control of Moroccan political and financial affairs . Aftermath . Although the Algeciras Conference temporarily solved the First Moroccan Crisis , it only worsened the tensions between the Triple Alliance and Triple Entente that ultimately led to the First World War . The First Moroccan Crisis also showed that the Entente Cordiale was strong , as Britain had defended France in the crisis . The crisis can be seen as a reason for the Anglo - Russian Entente being signed the following year since both countries backed France . Kaiser Wilhelm II was angry at being humiliated and was determined not to back down again , which led to the German involvement in the Second Moroccan Crisis .