FRANCO=GERMAN TENSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1313, 16 December 1911, Page 5

FRANCO=GERMAN TENSION.

STORY OP THE CRISIS. STATEMENT BY FRENCH FOREIGN MINIS iEKDEPUTIES IRONICAL. Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrlßbt (Kec. December 13, 10.10 p.m.) Paris, December 15. The Comte do Muu, Conservative deputy for Finistero, opened a debate on tlio Franco-German situation before a crowded Chamber with a telling speech, the ett'ect of which was that although previously in her history Franco' had lost her colonies, it had always been with weapons in her hand. It was now different. AI. do Selves, Minister for Foreign Affairs, was much interrupted in his speech by laughter and ironical cheers. Ha said Germany had resolutely ret used overtures for the holding of a new conference at Algeciras by the Powers, and stated if one were callcd she would insist on tho re-establishment of tho status quo created by tho Act of Algeciras. After France had refused to cede any of Morocco, Germany asked for tho whole of Gaboon and tho Congo between the ocean and the Sanga Rivor, Franco receiving in return I'ogoland and a strip in tho Kamerun. Tension was created when France refused, and Gormany then suggested that she should be given access to the Congo River. She afterwards proposed to divide Morocco into two zones, in one of which Germany would have tho advantage. The outline of the ultimate agreement only emerged in October. Spain was now asked to pay an equitable price for benefits conferred by the Franco-German agreement. Comte de Mun's interpolation was negatived by 418 votes to 98.