17 MARCH 1906, Page 1

Friday's news in regard to the Morocco Conference shows that

no agreement has yet been reached, and that there is a very serious fear of the Conference breaking up without result. The particular point of disagreement is the question of the organisation of the police force at Casa Blanca, one of the Moroccan ports. As to the other seven sea-ports there is a general agreement that the force shall be officered by French or Spanish officers. The Germans desire that at Casa Blanca, at any rate, the force should have officers from a neutral Power. They insist, that is, that the police force must be international, and not merely Franco-Spanish, in one Moroccan port at least, in order to give recognition to the principle of internationalism. The French, on the other hand, refuse any concession on this point, because they are determined not to recognise internationalism in any shape. That it will be possible to find a compromise between views so conflicting seems very doubtful. The best that one can say is that while there is life there is hope, and that as long as the Congress has not actually dispersed it is just possible that an agreement may be arrived at.