Note 1142 — Chapter XVII

Sir Charles Hardinge, permanent undersecretary of state for foreign affairs, believed that the way to prevent Germany from attacking France because of some French action in Morocco was for Great Britain to inform Germany that she is “absolutely ‘solidaire’ with France as far as the Moroccan question is concerned.” He feared that if Great Britain did leave France in the lurch, “an agreement or alliance between France, Germany and Russia in the near future is certain” (memo. by Grey, Feb. 20, 1906, and Hardinge’s minute, ibid., 266 ff., No. 299). Mr. Eyre Crowe, senior clerk in the British foreign office, a prejudiced, bitter opponent of Germany, suspected that Germany might demand and seize a port in Morocco or obtain a lease as she had done at Kiaouchau in China. He advised warning the Sultan against Germany. Sir Edward Grey regarded the proposal as premature so long as the Conference was sitting, but said that the eventualities referred to should be kept in mind (minutes to dispatch from Spring Rice to Grey, Feb. 24, 1906, ibid., 272, No. 308).