- Algeciras Conference
The Algeciras Conference of 1906 took place in
Algeciras, Spain , and lasted fromJanuary 16 toApril 7 . The purpose of the conference was to mediate theFirst Moroccan Crisis betweenFrance andGermany , and to assure the repayment of a large loan made to the Sultan in 1904. France tried to bring about a protectorate (a weak nation under the protection and partial control of a stronger nation) overMorocco , but this was opposed by Germany.The full diplomatic corps of the European powers was involved. The chief mediator, US Ambassador to Italy
Henry White (aided in large part by Ambassador to MoroccoSamuel R. Gummere ) was assigned by President Roosevelt to solve the dispute. The conference resulted largely in France's favor, though Gummere assured the protection of German investments.The final agreement, signed
April 7 ,1906 covered the organization of Morocco's police and customs, regulations concerning repressing the smuggling of armaments, and concessions to the European bankers from a newly-formed State Bank of Morocco, issuing banknotes backed bygold , with a 40-year term. The new state bank was to act as Morocco's Treasury Department, but with a strict cap on the spending of the Sherifian Empire, with administrators appointed by the national banks that guaranteed the loans: the German Empire, the UK, France andSpain . Spanish coinage continued to circulate. Rights of Europeans to own land were established.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 1000pesetas a year), but now to be instructed by French and Spanish officers who would oversee the paymaster (the "Amin") and regulate discipline, and who could be recalled and replaced by their governments. The Inspector-General in charge would be Swiss and reside inTangiers .At the last moment the Moroccan delegates found that they were unable to sign the protocol, but a decree of
Sultan Abdelaziz of Morocco onJune 18 finally ratified it.During the conference, the British sailed their North Sea Navy to the
Strait of Gibraltar , which was also where their Mediterranean Navy was stationed. The purpose for doing this was to intimidate Germany.See also
*
First Moroccan Crisis
*Second Moroccan Crisis
*Berlin Conference
*Fashoda Incident
* Colonisation of Africa
*Scramble for Africa External links
* [http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=28 Algeciras Conference General Act] : (French)
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