GRAVE SITUATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 5

GRAVE SITUATION.

STATEMENT BY "THE TIMES." CAPTAIN FABER'S SPEECH. INTERNATIONALLY I DANGEROUS. By Teleeraph—Prc;s Association—Copyright (Hoc. November 20, !).i0 p.m.) London, November 20. "The Times" shows by facls and dales tlio grave situation caused I>y tho revised difficulty in tho .Moroccan negotiations in August coincided with Uio British railway strike, and terminated with the settlement of the strike. Tho naval mid military precautions iu September provided for any possiblo emergency in tho future. The "Chronicle" admits that there were differences in tho Cabinet regarding tho best way to assist France in the event of hostilities, but the differences were overcome. Everything was made ready, but the preparations were purely precautionary. It contends that Captain Faber's speech was internationally dangerous. The "Daily Telegraph" declares (bat tho speech was mischievous. The "Standard" declares there is a diminution of friction between England and Germany. The creation of a basis for a better understanding must ho one of the principal aims of British foreign policy.

A NEWSPAPER'S COMPLAINTS. (Eec. November 21, 0.30 a.m.) Berlin, November 20. The "Tageblatt" complains that the German Ambassador was instructed only on the date of Sir. Lloyd-George's speech to verbally answer Sir Edward Grey's inquiry, and that the answer was not delivered in time.

OFFICIAL AND NON-OFFICIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrichl Berlin, November 19. The Budget Committee of the Reichstag dealt with tho Moroccan negotiations In secret session. The official report states that the Socialists declared that tho Govornment might have been more peace-loving towards Franco and Britain. Tho Centre approved tho Government's diplomatic attitudo but supported tho Liberals and Conservatives in declaring that the semi-official press had left the public too much in the dark in regard to the course of events.

The "Berliner Zeitung" states that Herr von Kiderlen-Wachtcr, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in demolishing the version of the affair given by Herr Bernstein, a well-known Socialist member of the Reichstag, who stated that Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, M.P., informed him that Great Britain had sent Germany a friendly communication regarding Morocco which had not been answered for a fortnight. Britain repeated her inquiry, and, uccording to Mr. Macdonald, the German answer was an insult, submitted to tho committee documents showing that Great Britain bad been favoured, inasmuch as she had received a special communication regarding Germany's intentions concerning Morocco, instead of tho identical Note forwarded to tho other Powers. Britain did not inquiro at Berlin regarding the dispatch of tho warship Panther to Agadir. She received from Franco information relating to Germany's demands, which were very high at the outset, because it was foreseen that it would be necessary to abate them. ,

The paper adds that, without inquiring from Berlin the correctness or otherwise of tho French information, tho British Cabinet deputed Mr. Lloyd-George to make his speech at the Lord Mayor's dinner to the bankers.

Referring to the attitude of Britain during the Franco-German negotiations regarding Morocco, the National Liberal newspaper "Korrespondenz" says the chief complaint against the German Government was its failure to enlighten tho public concerning its energetic action in London, and thus allowing it to be believed in Germany that the Government had quietly submitted to Great Britain's interference.