§ Mr. DILLONasked whether the Foreign Secretary will lay upon the Table the text of the French Note communicating the intention of the French Government to send troops to Fez, and the reply of the British Government?
§ Sir E. GREYThe communication was a verbal one, and there is no Note to be laid.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEIs it not the fact that Fez was relieved by the Sultan's, troops a week ago, and, if so, is there need for French intervention?
§ Sir E. GREYThe latest information t have is that the Sultan's mehalla has returned to Fez and that things are quiet in Fez, but that there is a complete state of disorder outside Fez.
§ Mr. DILLONasked whether at the time of the receipt of the French Note in relation to Morocco the British Government had received any reports from the British agents in Morocco giving grounds for the belief that Europeans in Fez were in danger or were unable to escape from Fez if they desired to do so; and had the British Government any information to the effect that the Emperor of Morocco had sanctioned the advance of European troops on Fez?
§ Sir E. GREYAs I explained in reply to the last question, there was no Note, but the French Government informed us that it was at the urgent request of the Sultan that the French were co-operating in the formation of a mehalla for the relief of Fez. We had, at that time, no reports of imminent danger to Europeans; but since then we have received reports that communication between Fez and the coast has been interrupted for some time past, and the situation is obviously one which gives rise to anxiety.
§ Mr. DILLONMay I ask whether the communication from the French Govern- 575 ment was to the effect that the Sultan had approved of the advance of the European troops on Fez?
§ Sir E. GREYThe communication was that they were gathering for the formation of a mehalla for the relief of Fez, at the urgent request of the Sultan.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEIs it not the fact that an international syndicate is endeavouring to exploit the mineral wealth of Morocco?
§ Sir EDWARD GREYIt is quite obvious that when you have a state of disorder outside a town, with the communications not open, and starvation inside the walls, there must be cause for anxiety.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEBy what right does France or this country interfere in the internal affairs of Morocco?
§ Sir E. GREYI would refer the hon. Member to the Algeciras Act and the Anglo-French Agreement of 1904.