First Moroccan Crisis

The First Moroccan Crisis (also known as the Tangier Crisis) was the international crisis over the colonial status of Morocco between March 1905 and May 1906.

Background

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was worried about the recently signed Entente Cordiale between Britain and France. He decided to test the new friendship between Britain and France believing that a simple crisis would show that the two countries wouldn't support each other.

The French were interested in taking over Morocco as a colony or a protectorate. France reached agreements in 1904 with Britain (April 8) and Spain (October 7) granting the French virtually protectorate control over Morocco.

Timeline of Events

The Kaiser's visit

The First Moroccan crisis grew out of the imperial rivalries of the great powers, in this case, between Germany on one side and France, with British support, on the other. This was met with the hostility of Germany, which had been kept in the dark. Germany took immediate diplomatic action to block the new accord from going into effect, including the dramatic visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II to Tangier in Morocco on March 31, 1905. The Kaiser made certain remarks described as an "open door" speech in favor of Moroccan independence, a challenge to French influence in Morocco.

Mobilization for War

Germany sought a multilateral conference where the French could be called to account before other European sovereigns. French premier Maurice Rouvier, initially interested in a compromise solution, refused as French public opinion turned against Germany and the British lent their support to the French position. The French foreign minister, Théophile Delcassé, took a defiant line. The crisis peaked in mid-June, when Delcassé was forced out of the ministry by the more conciliation-minded premier Maurice Rouvier; the French canceled all military leaves (June 15) and Germany threatened to sign a defensive alliance with the Sultan (June 22). On July 1 France with strong British backing, agreed to attend the conference, as it was apparent that Germany was becoming diplomatically isolated.

The crisis continued to the eve of the conference at Algeciras, with Germany calling up reserve units (December 30) and France moving troops to the German border (January 3).

The Algeciras Conference

The Algeciras Conference was called to settle the dispute, lasting from January 16 to April 7, 1906. Of the thirteen nations present the German representatives found their only supporter was Austria-Hungary. A German attempt at compromise was rejected by all but Austria Hungary. France had firm support from Britain, Russia, Italy, Spain, and the United States. The Germans decided to accept a face-saving compromise agreement on March 31, 1906 that was signed on May 31, 1906. France agreed to yield control of the Moroccan police, but otherwise retained effective control of Moroccan political and financial affairs.

Aftermath

Although the Algeciras Conference temporarily solved the First Moroccan Crisis it only worsened international tensions between the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente that ultimately led to the first world war.

This also showed that the Entente Cordiale was strong as Britain had defended France in the crisis. The crisis can be seen as a reason for the Anglo-Russian Entente being signed the following year since both countries backed France. Kaiser Wilhelm II was angry at being humiliated and was determined not to back down again which led the German involvement in the Second Moroccan Crisis.

See also

* Agadir Crisis (Second Moroccan Crisis)
* Tangier Garrison
* Perdicaris incident