Tangier and the challenge to French control

The Kaiser publicly backed the Sultan while France was trying to extend control over Morocco. His appearance on a white horse and public promise to uphold Moroccan sovereignty turned a summer visit into an international challenge. The conference demand and subsequent German threats made this a conspicuous and risky style of diplomacy. On the eve of the conference, Germany called up reserves and France moved troops toward the German border, showing how theatrical pressure had become military preparation. Morocco's geographic position mattered more than its immediate economic value because it touched Atlantic and Mediterranean access.