The state of affairs produced by the negotiations between France
and Germany about Morocco was explained to the French Chamber on Monday by M. Rourier, now Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as Premier. He was very cautious, the bulk of his speech consisting of two Notes exchanged between himself and the German Ambassador accepting the Conference ; but he stated definitely that "the understanding left intact the arrangements which France had previously concluded with other Powers. At no time during the negotiations has discussion turned upon the Franco-English Agreement of April 8th, 1904, or the Franco. Spanish Agreement of October 9th of the same year." Germany did not call in question those Agreements, which were made by the Powers concerned in the plenitude of their right. The speech indicates that while France has made a concession, possibly an important concession, to gratify the pride of the German Emperor, she relies upon the entente, and there is therefore a point at which concession would cease. It is said that M. Delcasse thinks that the Conference should have been refused at any risk, and that he has stated this view to a correspondent of the Gaulois, basing his policy upon the fact that the Fleets of Great Britain and France when acting together constitute an irresistible mass of power. Interviews between statesmen and journalists, however, are not always trustworthy, and their accuracy is at all events very easily denied. M. Deloncle, it will be remembered, said nearly the same thing in greater detail, and his view may have been confused with that of M. Delcasse.
