In the course of the Reichstag debate the attacks on
Herr Kiderlen-Wachter drew from him an explicit denial of certain statements that have been made concerning his Morocco policy. The speech of Herr Ledebour, he observed, gave him an opportunity of dispersing once for all the fable that he encouraged agitation in certain quarters by saying that they wished to have a part of Morocco. The statement that he ever told any one such a thing or encouraged a propaganda with that object was untrue. In his first conversation wills the French Ambassador at Kissingen he referred expressly to Germany's demand for compensation outside Morocco, and he made it clear to the President of the Pan-German League that " we did not wish for any portion of Morocco." Herr Kiderlen-Wiichter observed that "they had long desired to enter into negotiations with France, as the state of things re- vealed by the expedition to Fez could not go on," and frankly added, " accordingly we sent a ship to Aga dir to bring matters to a head." The Foreign Secretary's defence has, however, failed to give general satisfaction, and the German Press is busily occupied in speculating as to his retirement.
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