Note 609 — Chapter XII

On March 22 Bihourd advised Delcassé to “establish by an exchange of notes the bearing of the Anglo-French and Franco-Spanish accords on the commercial and industrial interests of Germany,” adding that “until then we shall remain under the menace, very clearly formulated by the German press, of some inopportune surprise” (Bihourd to Delcassé, March 22, 1905, L.j., 1901-5, 202 f., No. 232). On March 28 an article by André Tardieu, a journalist with close governmental connections, stated that the French Foreign Minister would give satisfaction to Germany if she wished it on the subject of Morocco, “provided it is a question solely of commercial interests” (Flotow to F. O., March 28, 1905, G.P., XX, 282 f., No. 6584). On April 4 Billy, a press writer in the French foreign office, sounded Theodor Wolff, Paris correspondent for the Berliner Tageblatt, upon how the German government would receive a French overture (ibid., p. 305 n.). On April 7 Hedeman, London correspondent of Matin, talked with Hammann to the same effect (memo. by Hammann, April 7, 1905, ibid., 310 ff., Nos. 6608 f.).