The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-28
ENGLAND WILL FIGHT
FOR HER INTERESTS
Prime Minister Asquith DeIiv-
ers Warning to Germany in
House of Commons.
Continued From Page One.

that they were such that Great Britain
would not consent to them.
Mr.. Balfour strongly hinted at what
is the general feeling that Germany
thought she could take advantage OF the
crisis in Great Britain : domestic poli-
tics, in the belief that it was so absorb
ing 30 the country that the people would
not paw attention to foreign affairs.
English newspapers are united In sup
porting the government. They are stu
diously polite i'll language, but strongly
urge that Germany shall not be permit
ted 10 make any African excursion that
would seriously damage Great Britain s
national interests. All the politicians
and the public earnestly hope that Ger
many s programme Is not one which
Great Britain will consider impossible.
Statement of Premier.
The text OF Premier Asquith s state
ment is in part as follows:
"It is obvious that this Moroccan
question has reached point at which
it will become increasingly difficult and
embarrassing unless solution is found.
A too close analysis at the present mo-
ment of causes and antecedents might
provoke in more than one quarter, re.
ordinations and retorts, which it is,
on any ground. desirable to avoid.
81 propose, therefore, simply to state
to the house what the actual situation
is today Conversations are proceeding
between France and Germany. We are
not parties to these conversations, but
| it is our desire that they should result
| in settlement honorable and satisfac-
tory to both parties and which his
majesty's government can cordially say
in no way prejudices British interests,
owe believe that to be quite posi-
bic and we earnestly desire to see it
! accomplished,
"Any statements that we have so
| interfered and prejudiced negotiations
Of France and Germany are mischiev-
Gus inventions, without the faintest
foundation in fact. We thought it right
from the beginning to make clear that,
failing In settlement such as | have
indicated, we must become an active
party in the discussion of the situation.
That would be our right as a sigma,
tory to the treaty of Algeciras, as it
might be our obligation under the
terms of our agreement of 1904 with
France. 1t might be our duty in de-
fense of British interests directly af.
fected by further developments.
''The statement / made more than
three weeks ago and the speech since
chequer have. ] hope, and believe, made
perfectly clear that we claim not any
predominant position, but that of one
party interested in any possible devel
opments and seeing solution Of the
present difficulty
A, j. Balfour, who followed Mr.. AS
quith, promised the government Union
lists support in guarding the country IS
interests. He said:
a IL
IF there are any outside these walls
who had counted on differences and alb.
sorption In home disputes in the hope
that they would make easy a policy
which, in other circumstances, this
country might reject, and if there are
any who supposed that we would be
wiped off the map of Europe because
we have our difficulties at home, it may
be worth while SAYING that they bit
terly mistake the temper of the Brit.
ish people and the patriotism of the
opposition.
James Ramsay Macdonald, leader of
the Laborites, remarked that the La
Dor members were utterly opposed to
war, but he hoped that no European
nation would assume for a single mo.
ment that party divisions weaken ma
tionai spirit, Nevertheless the Labor
ties of Germany, France and England
would cooperate to the very last mo.
ment, he said. to seek peace and pre-.
vent two professedly Christian coun.
tries from resorting to the arbitrament
of the sword over difficulty that
could easily be settled at The Hague.
The proposed statement of Sir Ed.
ward Grey in the house of commons
this evening is awaited with the keen.
est interest, for the secretary of for,
eign affairs is expected to appeal for
the united support Of all parties to
hold up the hands of the government
IN defense of what they concede to be
Great Britain s best interests.