It was announced on Thursday that an agreement had at
last been reached between France and Germany in regard to Morocco, and that all that now remained to bring the two nations into accord was the settlement of the compensation due to Germany. It is to be feared, however, that this may prove a matter of considerable difficulty, as there is a growing tendency in France to resent any cession of territory. We trust nevertheless that the French Government will not be forced too far in this direction, for we are convinced that it would be very much to the advantage of France, as of Europe as a whole, to reach a final settlement of the whole question. Undoubtedly an absolutely free hand in Morocco—we presume that has been arranged for—is worth a certain sacrifice of territory in the French Congo. So far as Britain is concerned, we have no objection 'whatever to seeing Germany given opportunities to develop her West African empire, nor do we feel the least jealousy as to any aspirations of hers in regard to the Belgian Congo, provided of course those aspirations can be satisfied without doing injury to France. In our opinion the French Government are far better judges of what may be safely and usefully conceded to Germany than the French newspapers or irresponsible French Deputies; and, if we may venture to offer advice to patriotic Frenchmen, it is to trust the Ministry in this respect, and not attempt to interfere with them by external pressure. No coach was ever well
guided by the passengers snatching at the reins or knocking the coachman on the head.
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