The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1911. CRISIS IN MOROCCO.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13418, 4 July 1911, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1911. CRISIS IN MOROCCO.

The war clouds, which frowned so ominously over Morocco a years ago, when the German Government forced M. Delcsese, tho able and far-vscoiug French Minister for Foreign Affairs, to resign, have never entirely disappeared. Germany has never been satisfied, and the crisis of 1905, which almost brought Europe to tho verge of war and for a time snapped all friendly relations between London and Berlin, has re-appeared in a more acute form. Germany, professedly under the plea that the situation in Morocco is chaotic and that the interests of her subjects demand protection. has landed a number of troops, whereat other Powers interested in Morocco are much perturbed. As a matter of fact the position which has now arisen is not in the least surprising, and months ago London newspapers predicted something of the kind. When tho Sultan was unable to restore order, necessitating French troops being despatched to tho relief of Fez, one of the three Moroccan capitals which was besieged by revolting tribesmen, the London Chronicle said: “The relief of Fez, and the rescue of tho Fnro))eanfi there from imminent peril, might be held to be justified by necessity, and its accomplishment, if the expedition were dispatched soon enough and in sufficient force, might not prove a very difficult undertaking. But who can be sure that the task would end there? Is it not, on tho contrary, almost certain that this would merely bo the beginning? For it is the Sultan who is primarily being besieged by the insurgents, and the relief of his capital would mean, in fact, the giving of military support to him and his Government It is easier to send an expeditionary force into a disturbed country than to withdraw it. The expeditionary force tends to become almost of necessity tho nucleus of an.army of occupation.” Discussing the same subject the London Times remarked: '■Though there is' as yet no hint that any Power is disposed to take advantage of tire situation, difficulties in Morocco might easily place temptations in the way of German statesmen that they might find it difficult to resist, and the tone of the Spanish Press is not the only indication that Spain already regards French activity in Morocco with jealousy and suspicion. The Spanish Prime Minister declared that whatever might happen, the Cabinets of Paris and Madrid would bo found ready to maintain the principles which Europe has affirmed as the basis of Moroccan policy—the principles, namely, of the integrity of the Moorish Empire, of the sovereignty of the Sultan, and of the ‘open door.’ ” What tho Times suggested might occur has happened. Germany could not "resist tho temptation: she has now got a footing, and unless we are very much mistaken, it will take something more than the combined protests of Britain and France to oust her from the country. One of tho German papers states that large cultivated tracts far in the hinterland belong to German firms, the property of one alone equalling in size the principality. This suggests that German influence lias

lot been idle since tbe Algeciras Confer■nec in UHKi, and it has been reported /coin time to time that Germany lias been making strenuous efforts to get a footbig in Morocco, German money being offered ’reely for development purposes. Up to 1906 tbe bulk of the trade of Morocco was n the bands of liritain and France. In .hat year thcro were 1(117 35ritisli, 7Ki .Tench, IG9 Germans, and GHI3 Spanish mhjects included in the estimated population of about 5,000,000. Great liritain sen! 15 per cent, of the imports in 11)01, 57 in 1902, 51 in 19011, and 13 in 1907. The share jf France was 13 per cent, in 1905-7, and if Germany’s about 7 per cent. Since then io doubt Germany has greatly increased iicr trade, and everything points to the faet that she is there to stay. Some of onr readers will recollect that an AngloFrench agreement was signed in 191)4, wider which the French Government deda ml that they had no intention of altering the political stains of Morocco, and the British Government recognised that it appertained to France to preserve irdor in that country—which, by tbe way, dm lias never been able to do-—and to proride assistance for the purpose of all administrative, economic, financial, and military reforms which it may require, provided that the treaty rights of Great Britain were let 1. intact. In order to secure the free passage of the Straits of Gibraltar the two Governments agreed not to permit, nor to undertake, tbe construction of fortifications on the -Moorish coast between Melilla (in the iileditorranean) and the River Suhon ((lowing into the Atlantic) excepting the places occupied by Spain, thus leaving the African coast clear about 150 miles east and a like distance southwest of Gibraltar. [The landing of the German tioops has taken place a considerable distance to the south of the Sehon.] The two Governments look into especial consideration the interests of Spain in Morocco, and Spain concluded a similar agreement with France, both agreements to be binding for 30 years. In consequence of Germany’s dissatisfaction with those agreements, to which she was not a party, strained relations arose, and finally the Algeciras (.'imforeneo was held, at which Germany was represented. In 1909 an agreement, was signed between France and Germany, by which France undertook not io impede German commercial and industrial interests in Morocco, while Germany recognised that the special political interests of France were closely bound np in that country with the consolidation of order and the maintenance of peace. Neither the Sultan nor the French have, However, qeen able to maintain order in Morocco, and trade is much hampered by the political situation. In the circumstances, then it is not surprising that Germany has interfered. Bho has effected a landing on the Atlantic coast, and some English papers foresee a Gorman naval base there and a. fresh danger for Britain. 'I hat ;a quite another aspect of the question. M'c arc satisfied Germany intends to get a firm grip in Morocco, and from that base will increase her sphere of influence far into the hinterland. She has a fleet to hack up her designs, which will not easily be frustrated. Fleets are useful for more things than war.