Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-27
TELLS ABOUT AGAD|H
British Foreign Secretary Al
dresses House of Commons.
EXPLAINS HIS COURSE
Details Negotiations With Germany
Regarding Morocco.
STAND MADE FOR ENGLAND
Describes Representations Regarding
the Dispatch Of the Gun
boat Panther.
STAND MADE FOR ENGLAND

LONDON. November 27.-Sir Edward
Grey, foreign secretary. delivered his
anxiously awaited speech on the interna-
tional political situation in the house OF
this afternoon. He declared
that the statement of Herr Won Kiderlen-
Waechter. the German foreign secre airy.
was incomplete. and. therefore. 1t was not
necessary for him to make fuller state
ment of the part taken by the British
foreign office before the house of COM
mons
The house of commons was crowded
when Sir Edward Grey arose. Many
distinguished strangers were in the
galleries, among them a number of
foreign diplomats. At the outset Sir
Edward told the house that Herr Won
Kiderlen- waechter's disclosure of the
conversations which had taken place
between the German ambassador and
himself had taken him by surprise. In
diplomatic procedure 1t was most I'M
usual to make public any such CONVEX
sations Without consulting the other
of Herr Won Kiderlen- Waechter's in
tention until he read the published ac-
count.
He did not make any complaint, how
ever. as he understood that the exigencies
OF the situation in Germany precluded
any such consultation. Herr Won Kfderen-
Waechter's statement was not complete,
80 that he (Sir Edward Grey was under
no necessity OF putting the part taken
by the British foreign office before the
house or commons In a fuller manner.
Mission of the Panther.
The communication made to the British
foreign Office by the German ambassador,
Count Paul Wolff-Metternich, July 1, in
regard to the dispatch of the German
gunboat Panther to Agadir. in southern
Morocco, and the ambassadors explana-
ton in regard to that matter continued
Sir Edward Grey, made it clear tnat Ger
many regarded a return to the status quo
In Morocco as impossible, and that Ger
many's real objective was definite So
luton OF the whole Moroccan question.
July 3 Sir Edward Grey informed the
German ambassador that the situation
created by the dispatch of the Panther
to Agadir was so serious and important
that 1t must be discussed at a cabinet
council. and July he told Count Wolff
Metternich that Great Britain was not
able to take up disinterested attitude
concerning Morocco. nor to recognize any
new arrangement without her consent.
Icing silence followed, and the next
conversation between Sir Edward Grey
July n. when the British fore gn secre-
tary told the German ambassador that
the British government adhered to his
made July 4.
Sir Edward Grey also told Count Wolff
Metternich on that occasion that the Brit
ish government knew that rectitcation
of the KOngo frontier was proposed as
the basis of a settlement between Ger
many and France, and said he thought
the mater might be arranged ON such a
basis without affecting British interests.
I'VE shall be very glad IL this happens.
and in the hope that /. would happen we
have hitherto stood one one side, Sir Ed
ward Grey said to the ambassador, and
continued:
German Demands.
But 1 had been made anxious by
the news regarding the demands which
the German government had made
effect meant cession OF the French
Kongo, and which 1t was obviously I'm
possible for the French government to
concede. I pointed out that the Ger
mans were In the closed port Of Aga
dir, that they were landing and nego-
tiating with the tribes. and. for all we
knew. might be acquiring concessions.
1t might also be that the German flag
had been hoisted at Agadir. which is
the most suitable port on that coast
d
Sir Edward Grey pointed out to
Count Wolff -Metrenich that In the event
of the negotiations with France failing,
Great Britain would be obliged to take
some step in order to protect British in
terests. The German ambassador was
not in position to impart any informa-
ton to the British foreign Office, but he
deprecated the assumption of possible
damage to British interests. and said he
was sure that his government had no in
tention Of acquiring commercial monop-
olies.
Not Antagonistic to Germany.
The foreign secretary reviewed the
whole Moroccan episode from the sudden
appearance of the German gunboat Pam
Their in the port of Agadir up to the sign
ing OF a Franco-Gernan treaty. He un-
upheld the attitude taken by
the British government, but at the same
time declared that it's action was never
to Germany or to any settle
ment she was able to arrange with
France which did not threaten the rights
Of Great Britain.
Sir Edward Grey made no secret of the
fact that the situation had at one time
been very tense but thought his state
ments today would prove a sedative to q
world which had been INDUCING in a fit
of political alcoholism, and that the time
had arrived for 1t to get sober and to
keep cool.