GERMANY'S BLUFF

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 23, 21 July 1911, Page 5

GERMANY'S BLUFF

THE MOROCCAN CRISIS. IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS. BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S ACTION. By Oabl« —Press Association —Copyright. Received 21, 1 a.m. London, July 20. Cabinet to-morrow will consider the German demands in connection with Morocco. These amount to complete cession by France of the coast and interior of the French Congo as far as the Sanga river; also France's contingent reversion of the Congo State under the suggested arrangement, which would add another 2T0.000 to the existing 200,00 square miles in the German Cameroons, while France would retain the hinterland of the French Congo. Communication thence to the Atlantic would be exclusively through German or Belgian territory. FEELING IN FRANCE. IMPOSSIBLE COMPENSATIONS. FRANCE'S ALTERNATIVE. Received 21, 1 a.m. London, July 20. The Times' Paris correspondent states that although it is not alleged that there is any contravnction of the Algeciras Treaty or the agreement of February, 1909, Germany is demanding impossible compensation, which German statesmen are aware it is not conceivable the French Government could for a moment entertain; the so-called compensations for withdrawing the warship from Agad)T without relinquishment of any valuable economic right secured by Germany in Morocco in 1909, nor is there any word that Germany guarantees better fulfilment of its promise of 1909 not to impede France's acknowledged political interest in Morocco.

Opinion is spreading that Germany desires France, as a last resort, to whittle the settlement to Mulai Hafid's ceding Agadir and other territory to Germany This would satisfy Pan German ambitions'and, by directly compromising British interest, greatly strain the AngloFrench entente.

Le Temps declares that if the negotiations lead to a deadlock, France's only course is an appeal to the signatories of the Algeciras Treaty.

"AUDACIOUS BLUFF." SENDING OF BRITISH WARSHIPS URGED. Received 21, 1.5 a.m. London, July 20. The Times regards the German demands as audacious bluff, and possibly not without its electioneering aspects. But the paper also "believes that Germany has not yet shown her hand, and adds that possibly the sending of one or two British ships to Agadir might hasten developments. . j A DELICATE SITUATION. j -BRITISH-PREMIER STOPS IN I LONDON. Heeeived 20, 11.35 p.m. London, July 20. Owing to the veto crisis, and perhaps more especially to the sudden and delicate situation between France and Germany regarding Morocco, Mr. Asquith's intended visit to Edinburgh next Monday is postponed. Paris, July 19. The Spanish Ambassador interviewed M. Selves, the French Ministpr for Foreign Affairs, and promised that if the Spanish agents confirm the circumstances already reported of the French Consul's arrest at Alcazar, Spain would admit it was unfair, express regret, and make the necessary reparation.