Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-10-14
area. Rritain.s Alleged Offer.

Great Britain's Alleged Offer.
The Paris newspapers are adding new
nhases to the disclosures concerning the
alleged revelations of Great Britsin's Of
fer of naval and military aid to France,
if Germany assumed a belligerent attitude
over Morocco.
The Figaro gives a detailed version
even more sensational than the previous
alleged disclosures of the Matln. IL
saws that the previous report OF Great
Britain Offering to mobilize her navy
and land British troops in Germany Is
not correct, but that the actual occur
renee was as follows:
Before the Moroccan crisis became
acute the British government made three
distinct overtures to learn if France was
disposed to conclude treaty of defensive
alliance. France declined to consider
the question. Later, when the Moroc-
can crisis became acute, Paul Csmbon,
the French Ambassador to Great Brit-
ain. reopened the question and obtained
q verbal assurance from Foreign Secre-
tarV Lansdowne of Great Britain's eifec-
tive support in the event of hostill-
ties. NJ. Csmbon was thereupon
able to announce TO NJ. Delcasse (who
was then foreign minister that II case
coming within treaty was des'reo,
Great Britain would reiterate her assur-
ance in writing. The German Ambas-
sador in London, Count WOlfi-Metter-
mich, learned of these assurance and IN
formed Berlin. Emperor William de-
cided on a counter move and made Italy
the medium of its execution. he in
formed Italy that any treaty whereby
Great Britain gave France military sup"
port relative to Morocco would constitute
a casus belli. :,
The Figaro asserts that this amounted
to an indirect ultimatum and that the
Italian Government communicated the
situation to NJ. Barrere, the French
Am AMBASSADOR to Italy, who informed
Paris. June 4. Immediately thereafter
NJ. Delcasse resigned June 6) as re-
suit Of violent scene in Cabinet
council During this council NJ. Del
casse is alleged to have said: 81 have
formal assurance of Great Britain's sup
port" Premier Rouvier is represented
as answering:
"And have NJ. Barrere's telegram
proving that this means war if we con-
iinue your policy. | refuse 10 indorSe
what you seem to treat so lightly"
The other ministers are said to have
upheld NJ. Rouvier, whereupon NJ. Del
casse resigned.
The foregoing version is chiefly impor-
tant in the allegation that Great Brit
ain sought for aud promised military
defensive alliance against Germany.
Later a semi-ofiicial note was issued
saving that the published reports upon
the incidents accompanying the reslg-
nation of NJ Delcasse, and notably the
details regarding the Cabinet council
preceding his resignation are inexact. -
The issuance of this denial steadied
prices on the Bourse, which showed un-
easness over the agitation.
The Foreign Office has received from
the Spanish government its official ac-
ceptance ofthe proposition that Algeclras,
near Gibraltar, be used as the place Tor
the Moroccan conference.
With reference to the Paris Mathis S
alleged disclosures, it is authoritatively
stated that the British government does
no. intend to issue formal statement
on the subject, but it can be said that
the government has communicated to
Germany statement to the effect that
Great Britain did not offer to assist
France in the event of an attack by Ger
many, and that France did lot ask tor
such assistance.
The Cologne Gazette prints another
inspired dispatch from Berlin apropos OF
the Figaro's additions to the Mathis
storv. which can be interpreted only as
a plain hint to the British government to
explain its role in the matter.
The dispatch notes that while the Ma
tins versions only gave ground for the
assumption that the suggested alliance Of
France and Great Britain against Ger
many had an official character, the Fig
aro's version confirms this assumption
by giving the names of parties, and says
that this makes the case against NJ. Del
casse all the stronger The mention o
the name of Lord Lansdowne, the Brit
ish Foreign Secretary, in connection viii
the matter sheds upon the story an en-
barrassing light for Great Britain, ac
cording to the dispatch, which says;
at is exceedingly repugnant to us Il
regard British statesmen like Premie
Baliour and Foreign Minister Lansdown'
as capable Of such game, but IL suci
revelations are repeated and remain un
contradicted one cannot avoid growing
more and more skeptical about the mat
ter. The question arises as to how l
was possible that French statesmen, Wit
undoubtedly are men to be taken serious
, ly. could have believed that there was al
offer of British alliance if no ADEQUATE
: basis existed for such an exceediDgl.
serious matter"
,, Insomnia and Indigestion Cured.
Last year had a very severe attacl