Moroccan Crises

Moroccan Crisis Causes

Besides the Kaiser's inflammatory speech in Tangier, which marked the beginning of the First Moroccan Crisis, it is essential to recognise the other secondary, leading causes of the Crises.

Anglo-French Entente - April 1904

Neither the German government nor Kaiser Wilhelm had a great interest in Morocco. The Kaiser's speech was a political act in defiance of the Anglo-French Entente.

Previously named the Entente Cordiale, its purpose was to produce a settlement of the long-standing imperialist rivalries between Britain and France in North Africa. However, the Kaiser saw this as an alliance against Germany and upsetting the balance of power in Europe.

The terms of the Anglo-French Entente 1904 were:

• Britain could pursue its political interests in Egypt.
• France was free to expand westward from Algeria into Morocco.

Fig. 2 Imperialism Cartoon

German Exclusion

With the lack of involvement that the German government had in the Anglo-French Entente, Germany became angered about its exclusion from the decisions surrounding North Africa. But this wasn't the only situation that got a reaction from Germany.

First Moroccan Crisis 1905

On 31 March 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany arrived in Tangier to declare his and Germany's support for the Sultan of Morocco. This provoked France and Britain throughout the First Moroccan Crisis and foreshadowed the power struggle seen in WWI. The Kaiser's inflammatory speech at Tangier was the event that kick-started the crisis between nations. His actions brought the first Moroccan Crisis. Key points from this event are the themes of Foreign Control, Kaiser Wilhelm's actions, and their consequences.

Kaiser Wilhelm

Kaiser Wilhelm and his actions were a harmful turning point for German foreign policy, undermining the work of former Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

Fig. 3 Kaiser Wilhelm II.

• Wilhelm arrived in Tangiers on 31 March 1905.
• He declared that he saw the Sultan of Morocco as the ruler of an Independent empire free from the pressures of any foreign control.
• Wilhelm declared that he would always negotiate with the Sultan.
• From this, Wilhelm expected Germany to have advantages in trade and commerce with Morocco so that he could be in equal positions with other countries such as France and Britain.

The Algeciras Conference

Kaiser Wilhelm's appearance in Tangier and France and Britain's reactions to Germany's decisions resulted in the Algeciras International Conference to resolve the first Moroccan crisis. The meeting was held at a ferry port in southern Spain called Algeciras in January 1906. Intending to agree on political and general control over Morocco and end the first Moroccan Crisis, the Conference resulted in three main changes aiming to resolve the ongoing conflicts.

Fig. 4 The Algeciras Conference.

• France was awarded controlling interest in Moroccan affairs.
• There was guaranteed equality of trade and economic freedom for every nation.
• Limitations were imposed on any country's colonial actions without consultation with other signatories.

Second Moroccan Crisis 1911

Six years later, in April 1911, French troops flooded into Morocco. The French initially claimed they were present to defend the Sultan against the riots in Fez, a northern city in Morocco. The French violated the terms they had signed at the Algeciras conference by sending their troops into Morocco. Consequently, Germany sent their warship "Panther" to the port of Agadir in retaliation.

Fig. 5 Fez, 17 April 1912.

The Germans were forced to back down during the Second Moroccan Crisis for several reasons:

1. Britain backed France again, giving them extra influence, power, and support.
2. Russia also supported France, creating a more significant force.
3. Austria-Hungary failed to provide sufficient support to Germany. They even failed to present a diplomatic alliance.

The Treaty of Fez came from the negotiations during the second Moroccan crisis. The Treaty was signed on 30 March 1912 and stated that Sultan Abdelhafid agreed to allow France to make Morocco a French protectorate.

From this, Germany was forced to recognise France's official position as a protector of Morocco. Still, Germany was given parts of the French Congo as territorial concessions, an unsatisfactory consolation prize for Germany. This power shift in the European nations caused the French to take control of the Mediterranean Sea and the British to take control of the North Sea and the English Channel. Germany became isolated and suffered in influence and power, setting up the power imbalance and rising tensions before WWI.

Consequences of the Moroccan Crisis

Germany's intentions in Morocco were to break the strong alliance between France and Britain. They hoped that their actions in Morocco would quell the growing European powers and decrease the threat to Germany's security and influence in Europe. Unfortunately for the Germans, the plan failed to create distance between the two powerful nations. Instead, it distanced Germany from other European countries.

Both France and Britain shared suspicions about Germany's intentions and, in response, rallied together during this proposition, becoming stronger allies. The mutual defence agreement with Russia involving France and Britain was also a consequence of Germany's actions during the First Moroccan Crisis.

Moroccan Crises and their connection to the WWI

In summary, the Moroccan Crises created a power shift. Arguably, its main consequence was the creation of rising tension and a conflicting atmosphere between the European nations only two years before WWI began. It also caused Europe to split into two opposing sides of ideas and power. Britain, France, and Russia against Germany and its loose alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy.

Militarism, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Alliances were all causes of WWI, seen throughout the Moroccan Crises. The primary catalyst of WWI was the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, with the war beginning just one month later on 18 July 1914. The conflict between the Allies and the Central powers lasted from 1914 - 1918, becoming one of the most extensive and fatal conflicts in world history.