Crisis in Morocco

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 11, 7 July 1911, Page 5

Crisis in Morocco

ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS. AN IMPROVEMENT REPORTED. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Received 6, 9.30 p.m. I Berlin, July 6.

Some newspapers hint that Anglo-Ger-man relations have improved. Possibly, they say, King Edward's and King George's foreign policies are not identical. It J3 also stated that Germany understands Britain; will not send a warship to Agadir. Official circles affirm that Germany geeks nothing in Morocco. It is, they hold, for Prance to declare what she is seeking.

GERMANY'S ATM. THE CAMEROON FRONTIER. Received 7, 12.5 a.m. London, July 6. Renter's Paris correspondent states that politicians consider that Germany's action means a resolve to participate with the four other Powers in a final settlement. It is believed here that Germany will be content with compensation. It is elsewhere authoritatively stated that France.is quite willing to enter into negotiations, and is ready to listen to the Berlin Cabinet's proposals, and is prepared to admit that the other Powers may be called on to participate in the negotiations. But in diplomacy it is the constant practice, before engaging in a discussion, to define its character and aims. Such negotiations will immediately take a favorable turn if Germany recalls her warship after ascertaining, as would seem to be demonstrated by the facts, that her presence is unnecessary.

The newspapers state that Herr von Kiderlen Waechter, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, in an interview at Kissingen, asked M. Cambon, the French Ambassador at Berlin, not to gpeak about the Act of Algeciras, which no longer existed. Germany did not wish to remain at Agadir, but desired to negotiate with France on the question of the Cameroon frontier.

THE KAISER AND MOROCCO.

j SEVEN YEARS' HISTORY.

In the vear IBM the British and French Government agreed that, owing to the contiguity of the boundary between the Frencn North African colonial possessions and Morocco, "it pertains to France to control the peace of Morocco." In German opinion, such an agreement would give France a practical protectorate, with the probable future amalgamation of Morocco, Algeria and Tunis into a North African empire, to be the chief colony of France. Germany may need land, but her far greater need is that of trade opportunity. France is a protectionist country. She might not only prevent Germany from owning any territory in North Africa, but alsothrottle German trade "theVtT German Emperor made a sudden visit to Morocco, and the resulting complications led to the calling of an international conference. It met in 1000 at Algeciras, j Spain. Its results were to establish a system of native police for all the commercial ports, under French and Spanish J officers, with a Swiss Inspector-General at their head; it brought Moroccan finances into proper banking control, and; in such manner that no one nation could obtain predominance; finally, it assured fairness of trade relations. The following year Mulai-Hafid, brother of the Moroccan Sultan, claimed the throne. He appealed first to Germany for aid, and then elsewhere; he received Germany's moral countenance, defeated his brother, and became Sultan. Later the Casablanca incident occurred. Men of German nationality serving under the French flag in Morocco deserted m the face of the enemy. Germany not only intervened to save them from punishment, but intervened in a town under French martial jurisdiction. The affair was referred to the Hague Court, and the verdict was, on the whole, favorable to France.

FRENCH ACTION RESENTED.' The despatch of a French force consequent on the recent disorders in Morocco has led to many protests in Germany that France has violated the Act of Algeciras. Leading German newspapers have for some time past been contending that the French occupation of the capital has carried with it the? restoration to all Powers of freedom of action. The Kreuz Zeitung, in a recent article, J says that "Conqueror" Monier is now in Fez, and the Sultan absolutely in his hands. A critical moment has arrived for the French to show whether their declarations were meant honorably o; not. "We do not believe," it write?, "that the French Government intends formally to violate the Algeciras Treaty, but it will undoubtedly continue to sin against the spirit of that Treaty. It will continue to act on the formula: 'The Sultan rules Morocco and we rule the Sultan.'" The French troops will be withdrawn from Fez if only out of consideration for Spain, which would otherwise most certainly occupy Tetuan, but a French Consular guard will naturally be left there for the protection of the Europeans. Morocco is a rich country, rich especially in minerals, and the Union des Mines, a powerful syndicate of mining capitalists, the successful rival of the famous Mannesmann Brothers, is the body most nearly interested in the fortunes of Morocco. The syndicate does not represent French financial interests only or even mainly, and has as much of the French "nationality" about it as there was British nationality in the mining companies on the Rand. IF is led T>v Messrs Schieider et Cie., of Creuzot.

and Herrn Fricdrieh TCrupp Aktiengesellsehaft, of Essen, Ruhr, the two camion ■kings of Prance and Germany respectively, and embraces numerous other

trench and German industrial and bankin? firms. There are also a number I of other concerns of very mixed nationality holding valuable concessions. CONQUEST BY LOANS. The above represents one aspect of the Moroccan question. Another, which was dealt with at length by a correspondent of tne Manchester i.nardian last month is—FTow has the trouble arisen which is now necessitating the intervention of France? The usual answer is. the triScs have been driven to desperation bv the extortions of tne Sultan and his viziers. But what has reallv driven the tribes to desperation is not the extortions of the Sultan and his viziers, but the extortion':. ot international finmep. Tt vie in lflfl.l that M. Delcassc first enncpived the idea of "pacificallv penetrating Morocco hv means of pold, and in the befrinnin? of that j«r he persnaded Abdul Am ,fo a French syndicate a sun?

of £300,000 at 6 per cent, interest. The sum was small, but it was viewed by M. Delcaaae as a germ from which a big plant was to grow. Towards the end of 1904 M. Delcasse forced upon the Sultan a further loan of £2,500,000, in order that he might repay the three smaller Joans to other Powers, effect some reforms.in the police administration, and become the debtor of Frace alone. EUROPE'S LITTLE BILLS.

The means bv which the loan was forced on Abdul Aziz have only been partially revealed to the public, but one of them—so the writer alleges—was the exercise of pressure from the Algerian frontier on the local tribes to revolt, so as to compel the Maghzen to make extensive purchases of guns and ammunition from Crenzot. In 1007 came the disturbances at Casablanca, the bombardment of the port, the military operations in the Shawai country, the whole culminating in the presentation of a few bills for compensation—viz., about £440,000 as indemnity to the Europeans who had suffered from the massacres and the bombardment, and £3,200,000 as indemnity to meet the cost of the French expedition. Lastly, not to be outdone in the process of "pacific penetration," Spain in IAO 9 undertook a little campaign in the Riff, and also presented a bill of costs to the Maghzen. Altogether between 1904 and 1909 the Maghzen became indebted to "Europe" to the amount of some £8,800.000, including the two war indemnities.

It is estimated by the Manchester Guardian's correspondent that the Banque de Paris ct des Pav-Bas. which floated the 1904 loan of "£2,500,000, received by the transaction something'like £500,000. As a result of the French transactions, Morocco was burdened with a debt of £0,500,000, but received only slightly over £5,000,000, which had immediately to be paid away.