he interest manifested through his
representatives, very properly received the commendation of the
people of this country and of the whole European world.

The Moroccan Empire was one of the earliest and most interesting
of the world's Governments. During the latter part of the eighteenth
century Morocco occupied the attention of the maritime nations of
the civilized world, as it was the home of the Barbary pirates who
preyed upon the commerce of all the nations. The United States
itself paid tribute for the purchase of immunity from these pirates.
One of our earliest treaties, made before the adoption of the
Constitution in 1787, was a treaty of peace and friendship with
Morocco. We entered into several treaties with Morocco later, and
joined in treaties concerning that country in 1865 and 1880 with
Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal,
and other Nations.

For many years Great Britain and France have claimed to have superior
rights in Morocco, and it has seemed to be the desire of France to
annex it. Germany has intervened, and the country has been a bone
of contention among the European Nations. In 1904 Great Britain
and France, by a secret treaty, agreed that France should have the
dominating control in Morocco, and that Great Britain should dominate
in Egypt. Germany opposed the French Protectorate and insisted
that an international conference of the powers should be called.
At one time it seemed that war was inevitable, and it probably was
averted only by the Algeciras Conference. The United States was
asked to participate, as we had participated in the conference of
1880. If we had not accepted the invitation there would have been
no conference, as two of the great powers had served notice that
all nations represented at the 1880 conference must participate in
the Algeciras Conference, or they would withdraw. Our participation
was in the interest of averting a European war.

The General Act or Treaty agreed to at that conference was a lengthy
and important one. Its details are not of much importance, as our
delegates signed it under a significant reservation that we would
not assume any obligation or responsibility for the enforcement of
the Act.

When it came to the Senate, there was quite a combat over its
ratification. We could not secure its endorsement during the
session which closed the first of July, 1906, but we were able to
reach an agreement that it should be v