| dc.description.abstract | At the end of 19th Century, after the Fachoda crisis in French and British diplomacy, French
colonialists conceived the notion to move forward in Morocco. As there was no more hope for
reopening the Egyptian question, Morocco could have been a reasonable compensation for humiliation
in Fachoda. France had for a long time been engaged in the Maghreb region - it had occupied
Algeria in 1830 and Tunisia in 1881. Morocco was the only one left independent and, as the
Madrid convention stated in 1880, all European countries had equal rights there. However a difficult
domestic situation in Morocco and problems with Algerian warriors seeking refuge on Moroccan
borders let the French interfere in this country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs in France, Thdophile Delcassd, came to a decision to
eliminate the rivals that would be interested in Morocco. In 1900 he signed a treaty with Italy
and drew one up with Spain in 1902 that was not ratified. Under pressure of the members of
the African lobby in the Chamber of Deputies, led by Eugene fitienne, and the French ambassador
in London, Paul Cambon, he started negotiations with Great Britain about the Egypt-Morocco
bargain. France would leave Egypt in English hands if England accepted her rights to Morocco.
The French-British agreement regulating this and some other colonial question, called the Entente
Cordiale, was signed 8 IV 1904. In addition to this treaty, the Frcnch-Spanish agreement was
signed. The only power interested and left behind these negotiations was Germany. Kaiser
Wilhelm II, convinced by the Imperial Chancellor, Count von BUlow, decided to make a demonstration
in Morocco. At the end of March 1905, he landed in Tangier, and made a speech in favor
of Moroccan independence, challenging French influence in Morocco. This manifestation of
German interests in Morocco caused a lot of anxiety in France. Delcassd agreed to discuss the
Moroccan issue with Germany, but BUlow preferred an international conference to be called. Many
French politicians were afraid that Dclcassd policy would lead to war with Germany. Prime
Minister Maurice Rouvier dccided to sacrifice Delcassd to eliminate this danger. Delcassd was
forced out of the ministry on 6 VI 1905.
At the beginning of 1906, the international conference took place in Algeciras to settle the
dispute. A free trade was decided in Morocco but Germany had to accept that France would slay
the main power in this country. | pl_PL |
