Abd-ul-Aziz IV.—The same year saw the ascension of Abd ul-Aziz IV. (1894-1908), whose chamberlain, Si Ahmed-ben Musa, became Wazir and exercised the real power till his death in 1900. The young sultan, who was desirous of reforms, and had a taste for foreign arts, sought especially, under the advice of his mother, a Circassian slave, the friendship and advice of Great Britain. But he became the prey of schemers and specu lators who pandered to his worst traits and squandered his treas ure. The Makhzen treasury had to be refilled, the taxes were increased and recovered, as usual, at the point of the sword and the natural consequence was local revolts, two of which were important, that of Jelali Zarboni, nicknamed Bu Hamara ("the Man on the Ass") on the Algerian frontier, and the rebellion of a local sharif, Mulai Ahmed-es-Raisuli, in the district of Tangier.
The Franco-British Treaty of 1904.—As a result of the entente cordiale, and as a counterpart of France "disinteresting" herself from Egypt, Great Britain gave up her ideas of inter vention in internal Moroccan affairs (April 8, 1904). Article 2 is important : "The French Government declares that it is not its intention to change the political status of Morocco. On the other hand, H.B.M.'s Government recognizes that it belongs to France not ably, as a Power conterminous with Morocco to a vast extent, to see to the tranquillity of the country, and to lend it her assistance for all the administrative financial and military reforms it is in need of." (Translated from the French text.) The principle of the liberty of commerce was guaranteed for thirty years; to be prolonged by periods of five years if not de nounced (art. 4). No fortifications to be erected at Tangier (art. 7; liberty of the Straits of Gibraltar). In a last article, the Governments agreed to "give one another the aid of their diplomacies" for the carrying out of the clauses of the treaty.
The Franco-Spanish Conventions.—On Oct. 3, 1904, a treaty was signed between Spain and France. Both declared that they were firm partisans of the integrity of the Moroccan empire. Spain recognized France's "special rights," as already stipulated in the Franco-British treaty of April. On the other hand France recognized Spain's special rights on the northern coast of Mo rocco. They were not defined in the treaty, but in a secret arrangement which was not revealed until 1911, and were equiva lent to the creation of two "zones of influence." Two other secret arrangements followed (1905 and 1907), concerned with the police of the ports, the joint execution of public works, contraband, the customs dues, and the monetary situation (creation of a State Bank), The Intervention of Germany.—In 1905 came Germany's
intervention. She had several times complained of being "ignored" in Morocco, though her direct and special "interests" may perhaps be questioned. Russia's discomfiture in the Far East in her war with Japan, gave Germany her opportunity. The German emperor's spectacular disembarkment at Tangier (March 31, 1905) was followed by conferences with the ministers of Abd-ul Aziz. As a result, an official proposal by the Makhzen, inspired by Germany, for the calling of an international conference, was launched, and France consented to the principle.
M. Delcasse, who had been principally instrumental in the preceding treaties, was none the less forced, under German pressure to resign office (June 6, 1905); an event of far-reaching reaction on French public opinion; and which created the im pression (several times renewed since by the Casablanca deserters affair; the Agadir incident, etc.), that Germany was bent on picking a quarrel. During the Algeciras negotiations themselves, she obtained from Abd-ul-Aziz the concession of the building of the port of Tangier, which had already been promised to a French company, and a loan of io million marks with a Berlin bank, in violation of an engagement taken with the French banks at the time of a loan contracted with them in The Algeciras Conference (1906).—The Algeciras Con ference began on Jan. 16, 1906. In accordance with the 1904 treaty, the British delegates gave their loyal support to France; while Austria played the part of a "brilliant second" on the German side. The general Act was signed on April 7, 1906, and accepted by the Sultan on June 18. It consecrated the economic internationalization of Morocco, under the sovereignty of the sultan. Commercial equality for all was, once more, stipulated; but France's "special position" was recognized by Germany her self. The only two particular advantages obtained by France were: (I) the allowance of a predominant part in the capital of the Moroccan State bank, on account of the monetary advances already made by her to the Makhzen; (2) the sharing with Spain of the police of the Moroccan ports. The diplomatic corps in Tangier was put in charge of the creation of the administrative and financial reforms stipulated at Algeciras (Moorish police in the ports; State bank; acquisition of land by foreigners; control of the Customs administration; impartial adjudications—without reference to the nationality of the bidder,—of public works and supervision of the public works administration itself ; etc.).