LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
AN AUSTRIAN VIEW OF THE MOROCCAN CRISIS.
[TO THE EDITOR OP TEl "SPECTATOR")
Sin,—The following expresses an expert * opinion as coming from an Austrian diplomatic source :—" Vienna, July 27th.—
" Die Information " ; von diplomatisoher &Ito.)
What has long been dreaded has now happened. The Anglo- German relations have (since the dispatch of the Panther') changed so much for the worse that we may be prepared for a recourse to exceptional measures on both sides. We have to recognize more and more that in this latest conflict currents and powers are at play such as are not likely to shrink from a serious decision. Only quite recently did the German iron industry dwell upon the meaning Morocco has for the pro- ducer of pig iron, and we may make sure that the controllers of the steel market in England are not ignorant of this fact. Now, the great German as well as English industrial combines both naturally exercise a great deal of influence upon the actions of their respective Governments, and behind the diplo- matic skirmishing we may easily discern a lust for dividends on the part of German and English capitalism. It is pre- cisely this lust for gain which—marking every phase of the present Moroccan affair—makes things so particularly serious. For we must bear in mind that what to-day is at stake is, not the victory or the defeat of diplomatists, but the opening-up of remunerative areas for German or English industry to-day ; therefore not alone do the diplomatists enter the arena, but with them are their ' seconds,' those commercial magnates who exert them to new endeavours and ever fresh courage. Germany preferred the present situation, and she it is who is also responsible for the same, and all the conse- quences which may result from matters becoming acute must fall upon the head of the Minister who has manoeuvred and knotted the threads in his hand. Not that England figures in a particularly edifying or sympathetic role in this game in which she may have to take up her partner's used, and possibly marked,' cards, while Franee herself is in the worst position of all, for she may have to choose between losing the game to Germany or to England, and so she can now decide to which of the two she would liefest entrust her little golden sheep. It is of the greatest moment to France to avoid an outbreak of war, and therefore it will be necessary to temporize between England and Germany concerning a question in which she (France) herself is really the interested party. The French papers also make use of moderate language, while both the German and the English Press make loud use of the trumpet. Austria has retired into a corner to carry on her observations of affairs. This, in view of the existing constellation, may be, not only the convenient, but even, perhaps, the right standpoint. Yet Austria is, after all, Germany's ally, and she is involved, to the extent of all her moral, financial, and military prestige, in the erratic courses and the plans of conquest undertaken by her companion. As yet it is not known whether Count Aehrenthal has made any confidential inquiries in Berlin with respect to what Germany may consider requisite as Austrian assistance in the present Moroccan business ; it would, however, be very bad as well as disgraceful if without any move on our own part we were suddenly to be swept down from our coign of vantage on the look-out tower' and trans- ported into the centre of the action. Under Goluchowski Austria slept her time away; under Aehrenthal she seems to dream it away ; and so there is really little to choose between
the two methods."—I am, Sir, &c., " IGNOTIIS."
[The Information is, of course, entirely misinformed in regard to the action of British capitalists. " The controllers of the steel market " here have no more to do with our attitude towards German action at Agadir than the babe unborn.—ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
