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First Moroccan CrisisThe First Moroccan Crisis refers to the international crisis brought about by the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II to Tangier in Morocco on March 31, 1905. The Kaiser made certain remarks in favour of Moroccan independence, a challenge to French influence in Morocco. France had had her influence in Morocco reaffirmed by Britain and Spain in 1904, a move which Germany saw as a blow to her interests and took diplomatic action to challenge. The German government sought a pan-European conference and Wilhelm II's provocation can be seen as a test of the strength of the Entente Cordiale. The speech turned the French public against Germany and with British support the French foreign minister, Thophile Delcass, took a defiant line. The crisis peaked in mid-June, when Delcass was forced out of the ministry by the more conciliation minded premier Maurice Rouvier. But by July Germany was becoming isolated and the French agreed to a conference to solve the crisis. Both France and Germany continued to posture up to the conference, Germany mobilizing reserve army units in late December and France actually moving troops to the border in January 1906. The conference was held in Algeciras, Spain from January 16, 1906. Of the thirteen nations present the German representatives found their only supporter was Austria-Hungary. France had firm support from Britain, Russia, Italy, Spain, and the US. The Germans eventually accepted an agreement in April that was signed on May 31, 1906 where France yielded certain domestic changes in Morocco but retained control of key areas.
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