Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-28
MOROCCAN EPISODE REVIEWED
Appearance Of German Gunboat at
Agadir Called for Protest.
STOOD FOR RIGHTS OF BRITONS
Germany is told that London Gov
eminent Must Be Consulted.
SETTLEMENT WITH FRANCE
Arrangement Drafted Along such
Lines that Intercsts of GREAT
britain Are Not Menaccd
in Any Way.

! LONDON. Nov, 27.--Sir Edward Grey.
secretary for foreign affairs, today
cleared the political atmosphere and
poured oil on the waters of the Anglo
German relations in a speech in the House
Of Commons.
The foreign secretary reviewed the
whole episode, from the sudden appear
ance OF the German glnboat Panther in
the port OF Agadir up to the signing Of
the Franco German treaty He unflinch-
ingly upheld the attitude taken by the
British government, but at the same time
declared that it's action was never an
tagonisuc to Germany or to any settle
ment it 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 sedatlve TO a
world, which had been lndulging in a
fit of political alcoholism, and that the
time had arrived for it to get and to keep
cool and sober.
No secret Treaties.
Great Britain had no secret treaties
and both France and Russia knew per-
tfectly we'll that British public opinion
would not support any provocation or
aggressive action against Germany.
German strength was in itself a guaran-
tee that no other country would seek a
quarrel with us; but If a nation has the
biggest army In the world and a very
big navy, and was going to build a still
bigger navy, then that nation must do
all in. it's power to prevent the natural
apprehensions of othG-s lest the power
should have aggressive intentions toward
them.
II do not believe that Germany has
such designs and, all we or other neigh
bors of Germany desire, is to live with
It on equal terms" said the earl.
Taken by Surprise.
At the outset he told the house that
Herr Won KIderlen- Waeohter'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
unusual to make public any such CONVEX
satlon without consulting the other party
and he knew nothing whatever of Herr
Won Kiderlen- -waechters intention until
he read the published account
lie did not make any complaint, how
ever, as he understood that the exigencies
of the situation In Germany .precluded
any such consultation.
The communication made to the British
foreign office by the German ambas-
sador, Count Paul Wolff-Metternich on
July ] in regard to the dispatch of the
German gunboat Panther to Agadlr in
southern Morocco and the ambassadors
explanation in regard to that matter,
continued Sir Edward Grey. made 1t
clear that Germany regarded a return to
the status quo in Morocco as impossible
and that Germany's real objective was. a
definite solution of the whole Moroccan
question.
states British Position.
On July Sir Edward Grey informed
the German ambassador that the situa-
tlon caused by the dispatch OF the
Panther TO Agadir was so serious and
important that II must be discussed at a
cabinet council, and on July he told
Count Wolff-Metternlch that Great
Britain was not able to take up dis
interested attitude concerning Morocco,
nor to recognize any new arrangement
without It's consent.
a long silence followed and the next
conference between Sir Edward and
Count Wolff -Metternich took place on
July H, when the British foreign office
told the German ambassador that the
British government adhered TO his state
ment on July 4
Sir Edward Grey also told Count Wolff
Metternich on that occasion that the
British government knew that a recti-
fication OF the Congo was proposed as
the basis OF a settlement between Ger
many and France and said he thought
the matter might be arranged on such
a basis without affecting British inter-
ests.
Sir Edward Grey pointed out to Count
olff-Metternich that In the event OF
the negotiations with France fafiirg,
Great Britain would be Obliged to take
some step I'm order 10 protect British in
terests
The German ambassador was not In a
position TO impart any Information to
the British foreign office but he depre-
Gated the assumption OF possible damage
to British interest and said he was sure
that his government had no intention OF
acquiring commercial monopolles