The German Chancellor went on to speak in a very
bitter tone of Mr. Lloyd George's speech last summer, which he com- plained was interpreted by the French and British Press in a Chauvinistic and spiteful spirit as directed against Germany, and that no objection was made in Great Britain to this interpretation. The Chancellor next stated in effect that he had made representations in London of the nature of "mind your own business," coupled with an invitation to the British Government, if they considered their interests affected, to express them through the usual diplomatic channel "In its effect, therefore," he added, " the speech by no means con- tributed to friendly relations between Great Britain and Germany." Then came a passage which seems a little out of focus : "On the strength of treaty obligations Great Britain stood on the side of France in all differences be- tween us and France—in connexion with Morocco at any rate. Diplomatically, therefore, our arrangement with France cleans the slate also with respect to our relations with Great Britain." Surely it did not need the Agadir incident to make Germany understand that we mean to stand by France if any attempt is made by Germany to deprive her of any of her just rights.
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