Mr. Asquith went on to point out that if France
and Germany cannot come to a settlement of the kind indicated, we should become an active party to the discussions. That is 'our right under the Treaty of Algeciras, and it might be our obligation under the terms of our Agreement of 1904 with France. Finally it might be our duty, in defence of British interests directly affected by further developments. The position is now quite clear to all parties concerned. Mr. Asquith ended by an appeal to the House not to enter into further details or to open up controversial ground. That warning clearly applies to the Press as much as to the Commons. We will therefore only say that it is obvious from Mr. Asquith's statement that our official 'policy does not differ' from that which we have ventured to
indicate in the Spectator. The dominant fact is that we shall stand faithful to France in any case. Further, we must of course protect our own vital interests. Subject to these two considerations we shall welcome a settlement which will be satisfactory' to both France and Germany. If, then, in order to prevent further German interference at Agadir the French like to grant some reasonable compensation or rectification of frontier elsewhere, we shall not dream of for- bidding such a solution, but shall welcome it. On the other hand, we shall not attempt to put the slightest pressure upon France to make concessions which she does not think she can make with safety to herself.
