First Moroccan Crisis (31 March 1905 to 7 April 1906) aka Tangier Crisis
Definition:
In 1904 France conducted two secret treaties. The first was the Entente Cordiale in April with Britain -- France was to get a free hand in Morocco in return for France acknowledging Britain's claims to Egypt. The second treaty was on 7 October with Spain to partition Morocco -- Spain was to get the coast to the south of Morocco, which enabled the development of its Rio de Oro colony, as well as having a sphere of influence over the northern part of Morocco around its enclaves.
The problem was that Germany, under the rule of Emperor William II, felt threatened by this new level of agreement by its European neighbors. Germany, which was quietly pursuing its own policy of colonization in Africa, was insistent that Morocco maintain an open door to all European powers, and that the Sultan should retain his sovereignty over the country.
In a somewhat dramatic show, William II visited Tangier in the royal yacht on 31 March 1905 and publicly declared his support for Morocco's independence. The result, considered one of the precursors of World War I, was international panic.
The First Moroccan Crisis was only resolved when, at the urging of the US President, Theodore Roosevelt, Britain, France, Italy, Russia, the US, and Germany attended the Algeciras Conference from 16 January to 7 April 1906.
In 1904 France conducted two secret treaties. The first was the Entente Cordiale in April with Britain -- France was to get a free hand in Morocco in return for France acknowledging Britain's claims to Egypt. The second treaty was on 7 October with Spain to partition Morocco -- Spain was to get the coast to the south of Morocco, which enabled the development of its Rio de Oro colony, as well as having a sphere of influence over the northern part of Morocco around its enclaves.
The problem was that Germany, under the rule of Emperor William II, felt threatened by this new level of agreement by its European neighbors. Germany, which was quietly pursuing its own policy of colonization in Africa, was insistent that Morocco maintain an open door to all European powers, and that the Sultan should retain his sovereignty over the country.
In a somewhat dramatic show, William II visited Tangier in the royal yacht on 31 March 1905 and publicly declared his support for Morocco's independence. The result, considered one of the precursors of World War I, was international panic.
The First Moroccan Crisis was only resolved when, at the urging of the US President, Theodore Roosevelt, Britain, France, Italy, Russia, the US, and Germany attended the Algeciras Conference from 16 January to 7 April 1906.