THE WAR CLOUD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 5

THE WAR CLOUD.

ORDERS TO BRITISH PLEET. HIGH PRESSURE AT WOOLWICH. MAKING EXPLOSIVES AND SMALL ARMS. PRIME MINISTER FIRM. GERMAN AND PRENCH OPINION. Bj Telegraph. -Press Associate,— Gopyrlfilit 1 , (Received July, 29» 940 a.m.) LONDON, 28tfe July. The First Division of the, Hoffis, Fleet has been ordated t£ coal and to ship a supply of oil fuel forthwith. The manufacture of Jyddite and cordite at thd, Waolwidfo Arsenal is proceeding at high pressure. There is noticeable activity ia the production o£ small &tmti!>

BRITISH INTERESTS. * IN NORTH AFRICA. DEFINED Utf MR. ASQUITH. OBLIGATION B UNDER ANGLUFRENCH AGREEMENT. LONDON, 28th July. The Prime Minister (Sir. Asquith), in making his promised statement on thu Moroccan question in the Hoitee of Commons, declared that the situation had reached a point at which it became difficult and harassing unless a solution was found. A too close .analysis of the causes of the present incident might provoke recrimination, and he would earnestly appeal to the House not to ask him to enter into further details at present. The question of Morocco bristled with difficulties, but in other parts of West Africa Great Britain could not think ot interfering with the existing _ territorial arrangements, which she considered reasonable as among thoso directly interested. NO ATTEMPT TO PREJUDICE NEGOTIATIONS. Any statement that Great Britain had prejudiced the negotiations between France and Germany, the Prime Minister declared to be a mischievous invention. It would have been a grave mistake to Ist the situation drift until the assertion of British interests would have caused surprise and resentment. 'L'iie Government had thought it right in the beginning to make it clear that, failing, a settlement, they mugl become an active party in the discussion. Thia might be a British obligation under the AngloJTrench Agieeinent of 1904; and it might be their duty in defence of British interests directly affected. Mr. Asquith, in concluding, said sve hoped his own statement in the House of Commons three weeke ago, together with Mr. Lloyd George's recent speecu at the Mansion House, had made it_ perfectly clear that Great Britain claimed no predominant or pre-eminent position in Morocco, but claimed the position ol a party interested in eedng a solution of the present difficulties. PATRIOTISM tBEFOREt BEFORE PARTY. DECLARATION BST MR. BALB'OUR. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, who had previously been in consultation with Sir Edward Grey,' Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, emphasised the non-party attitude of the country towards the question, and said : " Any critics who have counted upon our absorption in our home disputes making in easy for them to wipe us out of the map of Europe because we have difficulties at home have utterly mistaken the temper of the* British people and the patriotism of tho Opposition." LABOUR PARTY STANDS FOR PEACE. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, Leader of the Labour Party, declared that tho forces of organised labour in all countries would stand for peace in fair and foul weather. He was soriy Mr. Lloyd George had made the Mansion House speech — (Opposition cries of " No !")— - because the statement should have been made through private channels. He was not against private negotiations when the public was absolutely powerless to_ influence the direction of the negotiations in the matter under consideration. Tho Labour Party would co-operate with the Labour orgar^sations of Germany and France to the la-st moment in the interests of peace. "If the path of peace is wrecked at the present moment, we shall stand by peaco after it has been wrecked," declared Mr. Macdonald in conclusion. "HANDS OFF!" AN INSPIRED COMMUNICATION. » WANTON INTERFERENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. BERLIN, 28th July. An inspired bellicose communique hac been published in the Lokal Anzeiger, a leading Berlin journal. It declares that Germany is indisposed to tolerate wanton and frivolous interference, and issues a. tyarning of "Hands off" to the too impertinent disturbers of peace. The phrase is much quoted, as recalling Mr. Gladstone's warning to Austriaregarding the occupation of Bosnia in 1878. RECEPTION OF MR. ASQUITH'S SPEECH. WELCOMED BY FRENCH PRESS. AS HASTENING A SOLUTION. (Received July 29, 9.40 a.m.) PARIS, 28th July. Ths French preee welcomes Mr. Asquith's speech on tho Moroccan question! •la hastening a solution of the crisis. Britain is determined to end a dangerous situation. Although the French Government does not, regard the position ac disquieting, yet unobtrusive military preparations are going on. CLEARING THE AIR. OPINION IN- BERLIN OFFICIAL CIRCLES. RADICAL PRESS UNSATISFIED. (Received July 29, 9150 a.m.) BERLIN, 28tb July. Mr. A«qtiith»'« declaration in regard Lo Mo-rocsa-iA wjkomg£, m-Jfis£.s&B&

ac ending the false conception of t Britain's attitude resulting *rom misconstruction of Mr, Lloyd George's recent speech. The Berliner Tageblatfc says Mr. Asquith has dispelled a. misunderstanding which might have hindered successful negotiations. ihe Radical papers refuse to be lulled, and complain of absence of an assurance that peace will be preserved. A SINISTER RUMOUR. STOCK EXCHANGE UNSETTLED. (Received July 29, 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Rumours are prevalent in Sydney that Great Britain hae issued an ultimatum to Germany. A firm of shippers declares that some English firnis have decided to charge war rates immediately^ The reports caused prices on the Stock Exchange to become irregular. AN ACT OF CRUELTY. EUROPEAN INTERVENTION IN AFRICA. • (Received July 29, 9 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day. Addressing a' meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, thw Governor, Sir William M'Gregor, declared that Europeans practised political cruelty in making a large area of Africa subject to themselves. The great nations,' he added, were proceeding to put into force, another political cruelty in respect to the unfori tunate inhabitants of Morocco.