| |
| 1911, April–May |
| |
| French advance in Morocco, following antiforeign disturbances. The French entered Fez on May 21, despite warnings from the Germans that they were violating the Algeciras Act. | 1 |
| |
| June–Nov |
| |
| SECOND MOROCCAN CRISIS, resulting from the forward movement of the French and the general dissatisfaction of the Germans with the working of the 1909 agreement. The French government was not unwilling to make compensation to the Germans, and Jules Cambon, the ambassador at Berlin, engaged in conversations with the German foreign secretary, Alfred von Kiderlen-Wächter, at Kissingen (June 20–21). But the Germans refused to advance demands and took the stand that the French should make an offer. Kiderlen was genuinely anxious to liquidate the Moroccan affair and pave the way to better relations with France and Britain. Negotiations on the French side were hampered by a cabinet change, the result of which was the formation of a ministry under Joseph Caillaux (June 28). | 2 |
| |
| July 1 |
| |
| The German gunboat Panther arrived at Agadir on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, ostensibly to protect German interests, but in reality to frighten the French into action. The French foreign minister, Justin de Selves, appealed to Britain to join in sending ships. This action was disavowed by Caillaux and rejected by the British (July 4). | 3 |
| |
| July 15 |
| |
| After much fencing, the Germans admitted to the French that they would require the whole of the French Congo as compensation for the abandonment of their rights and interests in Morocco. This was regarded by the French as out of the question, but discussions continued, carried on to a large extent irregularly by Caillaux. Settlement of the French-German issue on Nov. 4 (See Nov. 4). | 4 |
| |
| July 21 |
| |
| Mansion House speech of Lloyd George, in which he declaimed against Britain's being ignored in the Moroccan matter and used threatening language. Nevertheless, negotiations continued between the Germans and French, and by Oct. substantial agreement was reached. By the convention of Nov. 4, Germany agreed to leave France a free hand in Morocco and not to object even to the erection of a protectorate; in return France ceded part of the French Congo, with two strips of territory connecting the German Cameroons with the Congo and Ubangi Rivers. | 5 |
| |
| Sept. 28 |
| |
| OUTBREAK OF THE TRIPOLITAN WAR between Italy and the Ottoman Empire (See 1911, Sept. 29–1912, Oct. 15) (See 1911–12). This was due in large measure to the desire of the Italians to realize the agreements with France and to counterbalance the French gains in Morocco. In one way or another all the great powers were bound not to oppose the Italian action, though they all disapproved of it. The Austrians, however, objected from the outset to all operations that would disturb the status quo in the Balkans and thereby prevented attacks upon the Adriatic or Aegean coasts. Numerous attempts at mediation by the powers broke down through the hasty annexation of Tripoli by the Italians, which the Ottomans refused to recognize. | 6 |
| |
| |
