§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked whether Article IX. of the Declaration between Great Britain and France respecting Egypt and Morocco, signed at London on 8th April, 1904, stating that the two Governments, i.e., the Government of Great Britain and the Government of France, agree to afford to one another their diplomatic support in order to obtain the execution of the clauses of the present Declaration regarding Egypt and Morocco, is interpreted by the two Governments, i.e., either by the Government of Great Britain or by the Government of France, to mean and to include military and naval support under any and what circumstances?
§ Mr. ACLANDAn agreement to afford diplomatic support does not impose on any Power an obligation either to give or to withhold military or naval support.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked whether having reference to Article VIII. of the Declaration between Great Britain and France respecting Egypt and Morocco, signed at London on 8th April, 1904, in which it is stated that in regard to these interests, i.e., the interests of Spain in Morocco, the French Government will come to an understanding with the Spanish Government, the Secretary of State can say whether that Government has yet come to an understanding with the Spanish Government on the subject, and whether that understanding may be regarded as final?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe understanding between France and Spain foreshadowed in the Article referred to was subsequently embodied in the Secret Convention which has recently been published in Paris and Madrid. That Convention was accepted by His Majesty's Government as satisfactorily carrying out the stipulation contained in Article VIII. of the Anglo-French Declaration. I am not in a position to make any statement as to what may be further agreed upon by France and Spain in view of the altered situation in Morocco.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEAm I to understand that the hon. Gentleman can give me no information as to finality?
§ Mr. ACLANDYes, Sir.
§ Mr. DILLONasked whether there is any record in the Foreign Office of a proposal said by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire to have been made by Mr. Chamberlain for the partition of Morocco, giving Germany a portion of Morocco and a port on the Atlantic coast?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have made inquiry, and am informed that there is no record whatever.
§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table a Blue Book containing the Anglo-French Agreement of 1904, with the secret Articles, the Act of Algeciras, the secret Treaties between France and Spain recently made public in Paris, the agreement between Germany and France as to Morocco made in 1909, and any other Franco-German agreement about Morocco known to the Foreign Office, and all communications which have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of France, Spain, and Germany in reference to Morocco since the 1st January, 1904?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe Anglo-French Agreement of 1904 with the secret Articles was laid last Friday, and the Act of Algeciras has previously been laid. My right hon. Friend will lay the Treaties referred to between France and Spain as soon as translations have been made, and also the Agreement between France and Germany of 1909. He can promise to lay any Agreements between France and Germany that they themselves make public. Of course, he could not promise to make any others public, even if they existed and were known to him: it would be tantamount to a rupture of diplomatic negotiations between Great Britain on one side and both France and Germany on the other. Nor can my right hon. Friend promise to make public all communications that have passed between Great Britain, France, and Spain about Morocco during the last seven years.
§ Mr. DILLONMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will consider the desirability of collecting all those documents into a single volume, as the general public cannot possibly consult or make themselves acquainted with them in their present shape; and whether I am to understand from his answer that none of the communications that passed between the three Governments shall be included?
§ Mr. ACLANDWith regard to the first part of the question, I think the suggestion that the documents that are to be published should be published together is a very good one for the convenience of those who wish to study them. With regard to the second part of the question, I am afraid I must ask the hon. Member to put it down.