WHY DID HE RESIGN ? AN EX-MINISTER'S SPEECH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1908, Page 7

WHY DID HE RESIGN ? AN EX-MINISTER'S SPEECH.

INTEEEST IN GERMANY. REVELATIONS IN PARIS. \ By Te!eifrapb.--Prcs« Association.— Copyrijfhi. (Received January 28, 3.28 a.m.) BEELIM, a'Sth January, Widespread intafest is taken in Germany over J[. Delcasse"s speech in the. Chamber of Deputies on Morocco. Semi-official comments are reserved until the termination of the date (presumably the five years fixed by the Algeciras treaty 'as the term during which France and Spain are to assist Morocco in policing the country.) "IF" AN ALLIANCE WERE MADE WITH BRITAIN. THE KAISER'S THREAT. (Received January 28, 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, 27th January. It is reported in Paris that in June, IGOS, the Kaiser informed Signor Tittoni, Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, that German troops would enter Lorraine if M. Delcasse — the Foreign Minisi€r in the French Cabinet—succeeded iv negotiating an offensive and defensive alliance with Britain. Signor Tittoni . informed M. Barrens, the French Ambassador in Rome, who cabled to M. Rouviei?, the French Premier. M. Rouvier thereupon demanded M. Delcasse"s immediate retirement,' reproaching him for not communicating 'the negotiations to his colleagues. The true history of the causes leadi ing up to the resignation of M. Delcasse has probably not been written. Early in 1905>M. Delcasse, who had controlled 1 France's 'foreign policy in successive Ministries for several years, concluded' an agreement with Britain in regard to Egypt and Morocco, which countries were considered to be within *heir respective spheres of influence. The KaissE was understood to v favour the establishment of German riaval stations on the Moroccan west coast, and in March, he paid a visit to Mediterranean ports U1 r Ijis yacht. Persistent attacks upon JM. Delcasse in the German press followed, and as this criticism was echoed ;n.; n. the French Chamber., the Minister resigned, considering that he no- longer possessed the necessary authority to conduct the foreign affairs of lias country. At bhe urgent request of. his colleagues, however, he withdrew his resignation, but a few weeks later, after a long interview with King Edward, who had' also be3n on a yachting tour to Algiens, he once more resigned, and the Premier took his portfolio. Negotiations ensued, and eventually France agreed to submit the engagements she had entered into in regard to Morocco to an international' conference. The settlement come to, at Algeciras did little to disturb exisfcins arrangements, but the Spectator hinted) that the Kaiser was anxious/ to avengethe slight offered him in leaving- him, out of the Anglo-French agreement in regard to Morocco, and thus 1 restore him in the eyes of the German, people as an inevitable factor in every considerable arrangement throughout the world, In this, the paper was of opinion,' he succeeded.