Monday's papers announced the conclusion of Agree- ments between Britain
and Spain and France and Spain, in which the Powers concerned pledge themselves to the maintenance of the status quo in that part of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic which affects the freedom of the communications of the contracting Powers with their respective possessions. Spain does not conclude with either anything in the nature of a military Convention. The Agreements are, in fact, the logical consequence of the Anglo-French entente and the Agreement already made between France and Spain concerning Morocco. The net result will be that Spain need fear no anxiety on the score of her rights on the coast of Morocco and in the Balearic and Canary Islands, while France obtains a like security in respect of her Mediterranean and North African possessions. Britain, at the same time, obtains what she has never obtained before,—that is, a complete acknowledgment of her position and rights at Gibraltar. A section of the German Press has shown some anxiety in regard to the Agreements ; but this is quite uncalled for. The Agreements are in no way intended to isolate Germany, and cannot be injurious to any German interests, unless Germany is determined to inter- fere with the status quo. But she assures us that she has no such intention.
