BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1223, 4 September 1911, Page 5

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

IMPORTANT SPEECHES IN 'BRITISH PARLIAMENT. HOW THE SITUATION AROSE. Mr. Asqnith's statement on Morocco in tho House of Commons on July 27 and tho speech of Mr. Balfour (full reports of which arrived by the English mail on Sahirdaj;) prove that in this crisis British opinion is united. However acute may be political differences at home, Mr. Balfour mado it clear that whero the interests of the country are at issue tho Opposition will act in concert with tho Government. "The situation which the Prime Minister described as harassing and anxious aroso out of these circumstances (says the "Daily Mail" of July 2'J): Fez, t.ho capital of Morocco, was besieged by rebel tribes, and tho Sultan appealed to France for aid. After long prepajation an expedition commanded by French officers marched to tho relief of Fez. No sooner was t.lio capital safe than tho Spaniards, believing that thoir interests in tho north of Morocco wero threatened by he French, landed a force at I.a r.tic he and took tjossession of Alcazar, an important town on the main route to Fez. Germany appeared to havo acquiesced in tho action of Fiance, but suddenly and without warning sent a warship to Agadir, a closed port on tho Atlantic. The excuso for this naval demonstration was the necessity for ''protecting imperilled German interests," though the nature and extent of those interests havo still to bo mado known. Vigorous protests wero entered against this aggression on tho part of Germany, and 'conversations' were begun in Berlin between the German Foreign Minister and the French. Ambassador. Tlieso conversations havo revealed the fact that Germany demands compensations in Africa; tho cession of ports and territory in the French Congo, the reversion of the Frcnch right of pre-emption over tho Belgian Congo, and a commercial sphcro of interest in Morocco. Tlie German demands aro now tho subject of confidential discussion, which has not reached the stage at which British intervention is urcessary. As long as tho negotiations aro limited to Frcn-ch territorial concessions, the British Government trill take no active part, but should the compensations be sought in Morocco, British intervention is inevitable. Great Britain, as ono of the signatories of the Algecirus Act, 1110-i, is equally concerned with France, Germany, Spain, and eight other Powers in the integrity and independence of Morocco. The German Foreign Minister, Hen von Kiderlcn-Waeehtcr, who is responsible for this Morocco coup, appears to have acted on the assumption that Great Britain would not interfere. Ho apparently held tho view that both parties in England were so much occupied with tho political crisis that no attention need bo paid to BrUiich opinion."

SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH. BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE DEFINED. Speaking in tho House of Commons on July 27, Mr. Asquith said: '"i'lie Moroccan question has reached a point at which it will become increasingly difficult, embarrassing, and anxious, unless a solution bo found. Too close an analysis at the present moment of causes and antecedents might provoko in moro than one quarter recrimination and retorts, which it is on every ground desirablo to avoid. I proposo simply to state to tho House what is the actual situation to-day. Conversations are proceeding between France and Germany; we are not a party to thoss conversations; tho subjcct matter of them may not affect British interests. On that point until we know the ultimate result wo cannot express a iinal opinion. But it is our desire that those conversations should issuo in a settlement honourable and satisfactory to both the parties, and of which his "Majesty's Government can cordiallv sav that it in no way prejudices British interests. Wo bolievo that to be quito possible; we earnestly and sincerely desire to seo it accomplished. The question of Morocco itself bristles with difficulties, but outside Morocco, in other parts of West Africa generally, wo should not think of attempting to interfere with territorial arrangements considered reasonable by those wlio are moro directly interested. Any statements that we have so interfered to prejudice negotiations between France and Germany aro mischievous inventions without tho faintest foundation on fact. But we have thought it ri»ht from tho beginning to make it quite"clear that failing a.settlement such as I have indicated wo must become an activo party to discussion of tho situation. That would bo our right as a signatory of the Treaty of Algeciras; it might be our obligation under the terms

of our agreement of 1004- with France; it might he our duty in defence of British interests directly affected by further developments. There have been. limes ivheu ho irero not suro how far this was fully understood. I am glnd to say that we aro now quite satisfied that that is not the ease. The statement which I made hero more than three weeks ago, and the speech since mado elsewhere l>,r the Chancellor of tho Exchequer have, I hope and believe, mado it perfectly clear that wo claim not any predominant or pre-ominont position but that of one party interested in possible developments ami in seeing a solution of present difficulties. It would bo a grave mistake to let fucli a situation. drift till nn assertion of our interest in it might, owing to previous silence, iause surprise and resentment at Mio moment when this assertion became most imperative. That, 1 trust, we have sufficiently guarded against by tho statements already made. I repeat that we earnestly desire a successful issue for tho conversations now in progress, and I would venture in tho general interest to make a strong appeal to tho llouso not upon tho present occasion to enter into further details or to open up controversial ground."

REMARKS BY MR. BALFOUR. COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY. Mr. Balfour said: "Tho careful and guarded statement mado by tho Primo Minister requires little or nothing from me in the way of comment, and nothing whatever in the way of criticism. Ho has, with a full knowledgo of Iho difficulties of tho case, and the responsibilities attaching to the conduct of foreign affairs in a crisis like this, made an apjioal to the llouso not to drag in any irritating matter nor to raise any unnecessary controversy nor to go back over the past with criticisms which, as they referred to tho past, can do no good now, while it is pos.sibla that unless couched in the most cautious language they may act as irritative forces in the circumstances in whioh Europe and not this country alone finds itself. So far as I am concerned, and so far as my friends arc concerned, the request of the Prime Minister will, I feel perfectly certain, bo regarded in tho spirit, as well as in the letter. I need add only ono further remark. Gentlemen on both 6ides of the House havo often said that wo do not allow our party differences, however acute, to interfere with our common agreement where the interests of the_ country as a whole are at stake. (Loud Unionist and Liberal cheers.) If there be any observers or critics ontsitlo these walls who havo counted upon our differences and our absorption in the. bitter home disputes of the moment, in the hep© that they will make a policy easy which, under other circumstances, they thought this country might object to—if there aro any who suppose that wo are to be wiped out from tho map of Europe because wo have our own difficulties at home, it m*y bo worth while to say, for tho benefit of those concerned, that they utterly mistake the temper of the British peoplo and the patriotism of tk> Opposition, whether it bo drawn from one side or from tho oiher." (Loud general cheers.)

MR, LLOYD GEORGE'S WARNING. AN EMPHATIC STATEMENT, In a speech at the Mansion House on. July 21 Mr. Lloyd George said:—lf a situation were to bo forced upon us in which peaco could only bo preserved by the surrender of the great and beneficent position Britain has won by centuries of heroism and achievement, by allowing Britain to bo treated where her interests were vitally affected as if she were of no account in tho Cabinet of Nations, then I say emphatically that peace at that price would bo a humiliation intolerable for a great country liko ours to endure.

BRITISH AND FRENCH PRESS, VIEWS OE "THE TIMES." Referring to the speeches of Mr. Asquith and Mr. Balfour, "Tho Times" states"There is no section in this country which does not hope that tho common sense of the German people and thoir rulers will prevent a useless and dangerous insistence upon 'compensations' which tho other interested Powers cannot, with duo regard for either their interests or their honour, concede. Tho Priino Minister's statement should make it finally clear that, while we shall not hesitate to assert our interests or dischargo our obligations in the contingency which ho named, wo interpose no difficulties and only desire a solution creditable to all sides." The "Echo do Paris" of July 25 says.— "Franco is determined not to allow herself to be intimidated. If, therefore, tho news is oorrect that 100,000 German reservists will be called to the colours this year, there is no doubt but that the French Government will take a similar ste(). Wo could not tolerate, in fact, that Germany should negotiate whilo having ■100,000 supplementary men , under arms." The "Temps" remarks that France could and should have replied to the German coup by dispatching ia a friendly and pacific way a naval division to Agadir, and holds that tho German claims for compensation aro "really scandalous."

THE GERMAN REPLY. NEWSPAPER COMMENTS. Tho following comments appear ill the German papers received by Saturday's mail:— The "Cologne Gazette," referring to a French expose of the military and naval risks Germany would incur in a trial of strength with the entente cordiale, sajrs: "If the authors of such effusions think that they can in any respect affect Germany's determinations they are grievously d-eceiving themselves." Messrs. ICrupp's "Berliner Neueste Nachrichtcn": Mr. Lloyd George's speech is a point-blank warning, but if it is addressed to Germany we decisively resent this clumsy attempt of the Radical agitator." The Bismarekian "Hamburger Nachrichten" says: "The speech will make precious little impression. The world nowadays is not so easily intimidated by England as was the case formerly." The "Koolnischo Zeitung" on July 25 states: "It is known that the delicate point is the question of the 'compensations' which we are entitled to claim for tho extension of influence that France is 011 the point of assuming in North Africa, compensations for our not opposing this proceeding as wo should be justified in doing by the terms of the Algeeiras Act. It is no longer a question of colonial affairs, but a question of power which must be decided in Europe. That has been generally understood in Germany. Whether it has been so understood in Franco we do not know, but we are of opinion that when between two peoples of so susceptible a past as the German and French such things arc at stake the warning not to throw stones recklessly is very relevant," The "Tageblntt" asserts that it Is plain that tho Arradir coup was sprung before Herr von Riderlin-Wnehter had adequateIv satisfied himself of the extent to which France might expect the support of Great Britain. ITerr von Kirterlin-Waceh-ter hoped to deal with the French alone, and the determination of England to play something moro than a platonic role has necessarily compelled an alteration in German tactics. The "Boersen Courier" was authorised by the Foreign Office to sav that tho German Government is not at all disturbed by the reports, of the Ministerial and diplomatic conferences in London, and of the British naval dispositions. "English intervention is regarded," the inspired notice continues, as "absolutely out of Hie question." ff tho Franco-German conversations" fail the matters simnlv rrvort to the baste of the Alsreciras Act I his mil-compel France to withdraw all her troops from Moroeeo, with tho exception of Hie police at the trcafcv harbours. Jt trance declines to carry this out the iS"? w ?. rs lV pS nM ViII remai » nt anchor hV^' l 0 commnniouo concludes with the explanation that tho iraneo-Gormaii aPYoement of 1000 rannot lw reiiivoked as Germain- no longer con siders herself bound by it.