MOROCCO.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 134, 29 July 1911, Page 5

MOROCCO.

BRITAIN’S POSITION DEFINED. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. THE SITUATION GRAVE By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright. United Press Association. London, July 28. In the House of Commons Mr Asquith declared that the situation had reached a point at which it would become difficult and harrassT.g unless a solution was found. 1 1 close analysis of the causes cf die piusent incident might provoke recrimination. Hr earnestly appealed .o the House not to enter into further details. Ihe present question in Morocco bristled with difficulties, but in other parts cf West Africa Britain would not be thanked for interfering with territorial arrangements which were considered reasonable by those directly interested. Any statement that Britain had prejudicated the negotiations between France and Germany was a mischevious invention. It would be a grave mistake to let the situation drift until the assertion of our interests would cause surprise and resentment. The Premier proceeded to say that the Government thought it right in the beginning to make it clear that, failing a settlement, they must become an active party in the discussion. It might be our obligation, under the French agreement of 1904, and it might be our duty in defence of the British interests directly affected.

He hoped his own statement in the House of Commons three weeks aga and Mr Lloyd-George’s speech at the Mansion House made it perfectly clear we claimed no predominant oi* preeminent position, but merely claimed the position of a party interested in seeing the solution of the present difficulties.

Mr Balfour, who had previously been in consultation with Sir E. Grey, emphasised his non-Party attitude, and said that any critics who counted upon the absorption of the nation in home disputes making it easy to ivipe Britain out of the map of Europe, utterly mistook the temper of the British people and the patriotism of the Opposition.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald declared that the organised labour forces of all countries would stand for peace in fair Or foul weather. He was sorry Mr Lloyd-George had made his Mansion House speech (Opposition cries of “No!”), because the statement should have been made through private channels. Ho had not agreed with private negotiations wherein the public were absolutely powerless to influence the direction of the negotiations. The Labour Party would cooperate with the Labourites of Germany and France to the last moment in the interests of peace. “If the path of peace be wrecked at the present moment,” he said, “we shall stand by peace after it has been wrecked.”

An inspired and bellicose communique is published in the Lokal Anzeiger, which declares that Germany is indisposed to tolerate wanton and frivolous interference. The watchword “Peace” and the “Hands off!” phrase are much quoted, recalling the late Mr . Gladstone’s warning to Austria regarding the occupation of Bosnia in. 1878.