#36

Algeciras Conference

 

          

To ratify European intervention in Morocco following the First Moroccan Crisis
El-Hadj el-Mokri, Moroccan Ambassador to Spain, signs the treaty at the Algeciras Conference 7 April, 1906.
Signed	7 April 1906
Location	Algeciras, Spain
Sealed	18 June 1906
Signatories	Germany  Austria-Hungary  Great Britain  France  Russian Empire  Spain  United States  Italy  Morocco  Netherlands  Sweden  Portugal  Belgium
Languages	French, English and Spanish

 

 

The Algeciras Conference of 1906 took place in Algeciras, Spain, and lasted from 16 January to 7 April.

The purpose of the conference was to find a solution to the First Moroccan Crisis of 1905 between France and the German Empire, which arose as Germany attempted to prevent France from establishing a protectorate over Morocco in what was known as the Tangier Crisis.

 

 

Background

 

 

Britain and France's Entente Cordiale of 1904 had defined diplomatic cooperation between them and recognized British authority over Egypt and French control in Morocco (with some Spanish concessions).

Germany saw this development putting an end to the rivalry between Britain and France, which would further isolate Germany in European affairs.

 

On 31 March 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany visited Morocco's capital, Tangier, and delivered a sabre-rattling speech calling for an international conference to ensure Morocco's independence.

 

German diplomats believed they could convince U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt to challenge French intervention in Morocco.

Roosevelt — at that time mediating the Russo-Japanese War, and aware of the U.S. Senate's stance to avoid involvement in European affairs — was disinclined to become involved in the Moroccan crisis.

However, with the situation in June 1905 worsening to the point of war between Germany and France (and possibly Britain), in July Roosevelt persuaded the French to attend a January peace conference in Algeciras.

Germany had hoped that the Conference would isolate Great Britain.

 

Wilhelm II had thought he could form an alliance with France, if most of their demands were met.

He also thought that better relations with Russia were possible, due to the Revolution of 1905 and Russo-Japanese War putting them in a weak, ally-hungry position.

 

However, due to Germany being somewhat excluded in the initial decisions, and Britain's Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey showing Britain's support of France in the Conference via meetings with French ambassador Jules Cambon, the Entente Cordiale actually grew stronger.

 

Following their failed attempt to isolate Britain, Germany furthered the growing Anglo-German Naval Race with passage of the Third Naval Law in 1906.

 

The overall contribution towards the outbreak of the First World War can then seen to be the separation of Germany and her allies (Triple Alliance) and Britain, France and Russia, who in the following year would become the Triple Entente.

 The next major event to thicken the tension between these two would be the Bosnian Crisis.
 

 

Outcome

 

 

 

The final Act of the conference of Algeciras, signed on 7 April 1906, covered the organization of Morocco's police and customs, regulations concerning the repression of the smuggling of armaments, and concessions to the European bankers from a newly formed State Bank of Morocco, issuing banknotes backed by gold, with a 40-year term.

 

The new state bank was to act as Morocco's Central Bank, with a strict cap on the spending of the Sherifian Empire, and administrators appointed by the national banks which guaranteed the loans: the German Empire, United Kingdom, France and Spain.

Spanish coinage continued to circulate.

 

The right of Europeans to own land was established, whilst taxes were to be levied towards public works.

 

The Sultan of Morocco retained control of a police force in the six port cities, which was to be composed entirely of Moroccan Muslims (budgeted at an average salary of a mere 1000 pesetas a year) — but now to be instructed by French and Spanish officers, who would oversee the paymaster (the Amin), regulate discipline, and could be recalled and replaced by their governments.

The Inspector-General in charge would be Swiss and reside in Tangiers.

 

At the last moment, the Moroccan delegates found that they were unable to sign the final Act, but a decree of Sultan Abdelaziz of Morocco on 18 June finally ratified it.

 

 

Attendees at the Conference

 

 

 

• Germany - Joseph de Radowitz and Christian, Count of Tattenbach
• Austro-Hungary - Rudolph, Count of Welsersheimb and Leopold, Count Bolesta-Koziebrodzki
• Belgium - Maurice, Baron Joostens and Conrad, Count of Buisseret Steenbecque
• Spain - Don Juan Perez-Caballero y Ferrer
• US - Henry White and Samuel R Gummere
• France - Paul Révoil and Eugène Regnault
• Great Britain - Arthur Nicolson
• Italy - Emilio, Marquis Visconti Venosta and Giulio Malmusi
• Morocco - El Hadj Mohammed Ben-el Arbi Ettorres and El Hadj Mohammed Ben Abdesselam El Mokri
• Netherlands - Jonkheer Hannibal Testa
• Portugal - Anthony, Count of Tovar and Francis Robert, Count of Martens Ferrao
• Russia - Arthur, Count Cassini and Basile de Bacheracht
• Sweden - Robert Sager