MOROCCO.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 132, 4 June 1904, Page 9

MOROCCO.

In compensation for vlwao concession* on tho part of France, the British Ooverninrnt acknowledges her predominant position iv Morocco, nnd agrees that, if that anarchic country is to be "regenerated" by European influence, tho agency inu«t be thnt of France. On tho oth«r hand. Frauco is not to annex, or to fortify tho coast opposite Europe, while c\\t is to make arrangements, with Spain, n« being exceptionally interested in the fate of Morocco, which slmll be agreeable to that Power iv form e» well as subM.uicc Moreover, British comraerco is to retain all tho immunities it now enjoys by treaty, and U always to bo considered ns entitled to equality with thnt of France, even ns regards the pnfcsngo of British goods through French territory. TnE OTHER SETTLEMENTS. As regards Newfoundland, France agrees, in consideration of fivo access to the navigable portion of the Gambia, the surrender of three- nmnl! islets opposite Konakry, in French Guinea, and the cession of eight th.otu.anJ. squnro miles of land in Isigeria necessary to givo the French colonies in West Africa free acccs« to Lnlco Chad, to abandon her claim to tho. treaty shore, which thus reverts in full sovereignty to Newfoundland. This agreement removes a cause of dispute which, wn.s most dangerous, because both countries protected thoir rights, or assumed rights, by the use of armed vessels, which might at nny time linve come into collision. Again, as regards Siam, both parties disclaim tlir- idea of annexing thnt kingdom or nny p:irt of it, but divide it into two "spheres of influence," Franco being predominnnt to the oast of tho Menum, and Great Britain agrees not to pre*s certain claims with regard to the Custom duties levied in Madagascar; nnd France agrees to the appointment of n Joint Commission to settle the rights of nntionals in tho New Hebrides. The Siamese- agreement will not be *li»hed in India, and th*re will be discontent in Australia aa to the clause about the New Hebrides ; but taking the agreements ns « whole, they afford a fair basis for a long pone* between Qrent Britain nnd France, nnd a cordidlity between their Foreign Ministers to which they have long been strangers. The journals, both at home and abroad, attribute much of the .success of tho negotiations to the King, possibly with justice; but we think it would bo wiser to cdhero to tho old rule that ji.«» thf^ King is not to be blnmed for political mistakes, so ho should not Iw praised for political uucce&ses, His Majesty is protected ns well as concealed by " the screen of the Constitution. THE DECEPTION OF. THE AGREEMENT. Tho agreements hnvo been received with a sigh of relief by the* French people, and with decided approval, nnd, indeed, some admiration, by our own. They arc- welcomed without retcrve in Russia, apparently under the impression that they will diminish tho chance of British opposition to the treaties which at tho conclusion of tho wnr will, n« Russians believe, seat thorn on the Pacific. There is no annoyance felt in Austria or Italy, and it hi not certain that there i« any in Germany, though one or two journcls eomplnin thnt Germany i» not considered in tho arrangements. Where, asks one paper indignantly, in her "plnce in the sun!" The idea Aoems to be, both in Germany and Austria, that in sweeping nway grounds of diocord between Great Britain nnd Franco, Lord Lnnsdowne bus increnscil, however slightly, the weight of tho Diwl Alliance as ;ignimt thnt of the "IViplio:." Probably thai is true; but it is not .no important us it might have been if lh«» lliiH!.o-Jup;mCiic Wnt Vmd not, so to speak, thrown all alliances into tho mollitig-put.

GERMAN POLICY. Count yon Ruloir made an important c-peech on lorei^/i affiuis in the Reichstag on Tuesday. - lie .stated that he had no reason to assume llint the Anglo-French agreement wa.s in any way directed against any other Power. Ag.uiibt the attempt to improve the relations between England and France Germany had no objections to advance. As regards Morocco, \vhcTi> German interest .** wi-io nuove a. I commercial, Germany was materially conOtTiiid in the prevalence of tr.inquility and order, and tho Government had no ground to apprehend that their interests might bo disregarded or injured by any Power. .Turning to the Far East, the Chancellor stated that they weiv doing what they could to prevent tho duel developing into a Wtltkricg. Against tho charge that tho German Government, hud lulled otHers into unwarranted sccur-' ity by its excessive optimism, the Chancellor defended hinis>uif by alleging that other Governments had been equal.y surprised, and that even tho pp-s-simists did not foresee tho exact moment of the explosion. Be&idfs, to have adopted a pessimistic altitude would have exposed them to the charge of instigating the war and excited Russian mistrust. On Thursday the Chancellor ranged over nearly the whole field of home and foreign politics. Replying to Count Reventlow's implied suggestion that Germany ought to nsk for a piece of Morocco, Count yon Bulow dcclaivd that such a, demand was futile unless they were prepared to carry it through at all hu Kurds. In view of tho incalculable. coiihequeuceH of the war in tho Ftir East, a policy oi sobriety, calmness, and reserve would best promote tho interests of tho Empire.