AN ANXIOUS SITUATION.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13171, 29 July 1911, Page 3

AN ANXIOUS SITUATION.

(Received July 28, 11.5 p.m.) London, July 28. In the House of Commons Mr Asquith declared that the situation had reached a ppint at which it became difficult and harassing unless a sol- [ ution was found. A too close analysis lof the causes of the present incident might provoke recrimination, and he earnestly appealed to the House not to enter into further details at present. The question of Morocco bristled with difficulties. Britain would not think of interfering in territorial arrangements which were considered reasonable by those directly interested, and any statement that Britain had prejudiced the negotiations between Prance and Germany wns a mischievous invention. It would be a grave mistake to let the situation drift until the assertion of our interests would cause surprise and resentment. 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. Mr Lloyd George, when speaking at the Mansion House, made it perfectly clear that we claimed no predominant or pre-em-inent position, but claimed the position of a party interested in seeing the solution of the present difficulties.