The Dominion SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911. THE MOROCCO DANGER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 4

The Dominion SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911. THE MOROCCO DANGER.

The situation in Morocco provides a striking illustration of the dangers that may arise in a country from antagonistic influences and from divided control. An appearance of outward harmony prevails among the .four Powers which arc more particularly interested in the welfare of this rather lawless, semi-civilised country. No one, however, would for a moment contend that singleness of aim characterises the policy of Germany, France, or Spain. Great Britain desires that her treaty rights shall remain unimpaired; among them, that her commerce shall have equality with the French, and that no fortifications shall be erected on tho_ Straits of Gibraltar. Whatever views may be held respecting the aims of Great Britain, no valid reason exists for- believing that she wishes additional territory or increased responsibilities in any part of North Africa. Spain has been established there for centuries. Melilla was added to the realms of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1496. Charles the Fifth captured Tunis, and in the following years Spain secured many other places on the Itiff Coast. C'cuta, opposite Gibraltar, is Spain's most important strategical position, while Melilla opens a way into the interior. Fifty years ago, and fifteen years ago, Spain was fighting the Kiffs, as she was fighting them recently. It would appear that the powers at Madrid have for long counted upon the reversion of Morocco, an aspiration destined, we believe, never to be realised. By the latest expedition to Melilla, however, Spanish possessions in that neighbourhood have been considerably extended. France is in Morocco by reason of her possessions, Algeria and Tunis, promising territories which she has occupied for about seventy and thirty yearn respectively, lain the three Poweu>—

Great Britain, France, and Spainhave each an undeniable right to be in Morocco. Turbulent as the country has been during recent years, had no foreign authority been present, a climax of some kind would undoubtedly have been reached long before now. Indeed, nearly all North Africa has been simmering for years, waiting, it would almost seem, for tho final overthrow of despotism and anarchy.

Germany's intrusion into the conferences of the three Powers directly concerned has not lessened the difficulty of solving Morocco's problems. The situation was quite sufficiently complicated before the Kaiser demanded to have his voice heard. Germany's action need not be further criticised than it has been. It has, to the present, obtained no satisfactory explanation, except that it was due to jealousy of France. Mr. J. L. Garvin, who is as competent as any one to read the riddle of European diplomacy, writing recently in the Fortnightly Review, _ says: "The Kaiser's policy is modified in method; but that Germany has definitely renounced her ambitions in Morocco is notfor one moment to be supposed. It is believed at Berlin that the third _ Republic possesses far more colonial territory than it can permanently manage or hold; and that even if pacific penetration were temporarily to succeed, the cession of Morocco to Germany would ultimately bo forced at Paris. Tho chief dangers of the European situation are, perhaps, postponed. They may be disguised; they are not changed." Germany assumed ; tho role of the unbidden guest at the Morocco Conference on the very flimsiest of pretexts: namely, her economic rights in North-west Africa. In 1909, while Great Britain's share of the- Morocco trade was 39.40 per cent, and France's share 30.02 per cent, Germany's portion was only 10.24 per cent. The real object of Germany's intervention was, no doubt, to test the strength of the Anglo-French understanding. But the complete history of that remarkable episode' has yet to be published. The preservation of peace and order in Morocco has neon placed in the keeping of Spain and of France. There is accordingly no call for Germany to interfere in the affairs of the country. But Germans are not idle in those regions. A recent visitor to Morocco writes in the Cosmopolitan advising Americans to hie there, "before the Germans havo gobbled up more of the best land than they have done already." Mulai Hafid, says the writer, has sold great tracts of land and valuable mining concessions to Germans. Prance will succeed in restoring, at least, temporary order. But when the present rebellion has been stamped out tho future'of the country will, to all appearance, remain as unsatisfactory as before. Mulai Hafid, barbarous to the verge of insanity, should be removed. Owing to the polygamous customs of the country there is no lack of heirs to the throne. It is extremely doubtful, however, if any change in tho Sultanate would satisfy all the tribes and so bring peace to the country. Tho fact can be readily imagined that if one Power only had had the pacification of Morocco in hand the task would have taken no long time, and entailed no great expense, to successfully accomplish. Save Great Britain, none of the Powers directly interested is: noted for colonising capacities. In dealing with native tribes and in bringing order out of chaos, Great Britain stands pre-eminont. But in Morocco she is at present next to impotent. Germany is evidently intent on obtaining solid, material benefits some way and some time out of the long-continued imbroglio. Already many disturbing rumours aro in the air, most of them to the effect that the Kaiser contemplates the application of coercion to France. In certain quarters 'it seems to be believed that Herr KiderlenWachter, Germany's Foreign Secretary, has hopes of floating Bagdad railway stock on the Paris Bourse by way of a quid pro quo for undefined, and rather hypothetical, advantages' France may secure in Morocco should Germany not object. If France refuse, then we may expect tho "mailed fist" to be forthcoming. One of the chief dangers of the situation lies in the wealth of Morocco. It has an area of three hundred thousand square miles, every inch of it valuable. There are rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, antimony, and many other minerals. The climate is excellent and the country is well watered; Hence its attractiveness to Powers bent upon extending possessions, irrespective of. their own rights and the rights of all others,