THE MOROCCAN QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3381, 23 November 1911, Page 5

THE MOROCCAN QUESTION.

GERMAN MINISTER’S STATEMENT WHY BRITAIN WAS CONCERNED. CERMAN NAVAL STATION FEARED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received Nov. 23, 12.25 a.m.) BERLIN, Nov. 22.' . An official extract . from Herr Von; Kiderlin Wachter (Minister o£ Foreign Affairs) confidential speech to the Budget Committee has been publishedHe declared that a telegram on the 13th June instructed the Ambassadors to inform the Algeciras signatories of the despatch of the Panther and the reason for the step. The Ambassador in London Avas additionally instructed to declare that the position at Algeciras had become illusory, and it was necessary to protect German lives and property until order avhs restored. An appeal had been made by a member of a well-known firm to protect their lives, as it was doubtful if France Avas able to revert to tlie status quo of 1906. Germany eventually was prepared to seek; with France a solution in accordance Avith the interests of the signatories. Britain, therfeore, was informed af the intention before the Panther was sent to Agadir, because the above communication Avas sent on the first July. Britain did not inquire AA-ith reference to it, only on 21st July at Sir Edward Grey’s instance an interview took place betiveen Sir Edward Grey and the Ambassador. Sir Edward Grey’s opinion on Germany’s attitude, despite the Ambassador’s explanation when tlie Panther AA'as despatched, Avas again l manifested at this interview. Sir Edward Grev’s opinion Avas the result of charges AA'hich the French and a section of the British press, and indeed some officials, consistently urged against Germany’s policy. Herr Von Wachter remarked that Sir Edward sought to discuss the Morocco matter unofficially. He had at the outset emphasised the Aiew that Britain’s great economic interests made it necessary for her to participate in any settlement in the Moroccan question. Sir Edward Grey hoaa" declared that he had beers waiting and hoping for an agreement betAA'een France and Germany. Noav, hoAvever, that the German demands, as he had learned, were so far reaching that it Avas obAious that the French would be unable to accept them, he feared negotiations would be resultless, and the question would again come to the foreground. What, he asked, is Germany doing in regard to the closed harbour at Agadir and the hinterland- He knew nothing of what was occurring, and he added that Agadir was suited to the construction of a war port. Nobody knew Germany’s intentions with regard to Agadir. He must expect questions in Parliament anent- the matter. If the present negotiations failed the Agadir question, AA'hich involved British interests would immediately arise. Sir Edward Grey believed that, new Avas the time for Britain to participate in the negotiations. They held aloof while there Avas reason to hope an agreement would be reached outside Morocco, inasmuch as Britain would not be affected if France and Germany, as at first suggested, sought an agreement by regulation of the Cameroons frontier. The Ambassador replied that he was uninformed of details of the negotiations, and Avas unable to admit of the German demands which were obviously unacceptable. The suggestion that Britain should join in the negotiations had been apparently based on the suggestion that Germany might build a naA-al station at Agadir." These Avere suppositions Avhereof he kneAA' nothing. He referred to Britain’s compensation in Egypt, and declared if France desired a predominant positon in Morocco she mustoffer Germany the equivalent elsewhere.

Sir Edward Grey Imd replied, that it would he unwise to onoose German expansion in the heart of Africa, but in the event of failure to reach an agreement with France the situation was less acute if discussed before further incidents arose at Agadir.

The foregoing conversation showed that Sir Edward Grey had assumed that Germany meant to stay in Morocco.

The Ambassador’s report reached Berlin on the 22nd. and lie immediately instructed him to assure Sir Edward Grey it was not intended' to establish a naval port in Morocco. Germany had never thought of such a thing, and it was a hallucination. Germany had no designs on Moroccan territory. When the negotiations began it was guaranteed that the strictest secrecy should he observed, and Germany took the obligation seriously, and bad not even- informed her allies. supplied the press and also her friends with incomplete information calculated io cast suspicion on Germany. _ The latter therefore ceased the negotiations until secrecy was guaranteed. It the negotiations had failed he intended to insist on the execution of the_ Algeciras agreement in letter and spirit.