Editorial: The Anglo-French agreement
9 April 1904
The Anglo-French Agreement signed in London yesterday is supposed to cover most of the “colonial” questions outstanding between the two countries. The publication of an authentic text will probably not be delayed, and discussion of details is best deferred till then. But no time need be lost in congratulating Lord Lansdowne and M Cambon on the broad and tolerant spirit in which they have evidently conducted the negotiations.
The growing friendship between England and France is the most hopeful sign in international politics for many a long year, but we deceive ourselves if we pretend it has its roots in popular sentiment in either country. It is the product, rather, of popular weariness and disillusionment with a fashionable political creed; it marks the beginning of an intellectual reaction which is destined to carry us very much further than the last Agreement.
In France the warmer feeling towards us is part of the reaction from the militarism which persecuted Dreyfus. In England, too, the idea of friendship with France is curiously antagonistic to the Imperialist movement which in the heyday of its favour flouted the Latin races and courted Germany. In both countries the new friendship has grown up unobserved from between the cracks in the foundations of a fashionable creed.
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England and France: a threefold agreement
9 April 1904
A Reuter’s telegram from Paris gives the important information that the Anglo-French Agreement was signed yesterday at the Foreign Office in London. The agreement is comprised in three separate instruments. The first deals with Egypt and Morocco, the second with Newfoundland and west Africa, and the third with Siam, the New Hebrides, and Madagascar.
Egypt and Morocco
In Egypt and Morocco, the present political situation undergoes no modification. France will not impede the action of Great Britain in Egypt, and Great Britain on her side recognises the right of France to watch over the tranquillity of Morocco and to give the government of that country such support as it may need for the reorganisation of its administration, finances, and army, and will not hinder the action of France in these respects.
Great Britain adheres to the Convention of 1888 for the neutrality of the Suez Canal. Great Britain in Egypt and France in Morocco will see that great public works undertakings remain in the hands of the State. The two governments guarantee freedom of trade for 30 years in Egypt and Morocco respectively. In order to assure the freedom of the Strait of Gibraltar it is agreed that no fortifications can be erected on a defined part of the Moroccan coast.
An important fact, and one which gives a positive character to the entente cordiale, is that the two governments mutually promise each other their assistance for the execution of the terms of the arrangement.
Newfoundland and west Africa
In Newfoundland, France foregoes her fishing rights on the French shore, though retaining her right to fish, and the Bait Bill of 1886 is modified in such a way that the Newfoundlanders will in future have the right to sell bait to the French fishers. In exchange for the fishing rights which she abandons France obtains three concessions of territory in west Africa.
Siam, the New Hebrides and Madagascar
In Siam the two governments confirm the declaration of 1896 and determine its precise meaning, with regard to which differences have arisen. In the New Hebrides the two governments agree to appoint a Commission to decide land disputes between the inhabitants As regards Madagascar, the British government withdraws protests made by it at various periods against the economic regime established by France in the island.
The two conventions
From our correspondent in Paris
9 April 1904
The Matin gives this morning the result of the accords arrived at in London, and makes this comment:—
The Convention regarding Morocco contains the important clause that England renounces all political influence in Morocco. Formerly England exercised considerable influence there, directly and indirectly. The Sultan’s army was being organised by Englishmen. Nothing could have prevented the Sultan from granting a port on the Atlantic to England. Thus this British disinterestedness is a concession of great importance. In return France undertakes not to fortify Tangier opposite Gibraltar, and will grant commercial equality to everybody for 30 years.
These are edited extracts. Read the articles in full.
German views
10 April 1904
The Anglo-French Agreement is admitted here to be an event of great importance. The settlement of the Moroccan question is regarded as conclusive proof not only of the goodwill existing between Great Britain and France, but also as denoting a new grouping of the Powers. The comments of the press show this plainly. Care is obviously taken to write for the Russian public. For instance, the Vossische Zeitung, in an article, exclaims that at a time when England is entering Tibet she is effecting a rapprochement with France, and Russian bitterness is therefore intelligible. The journal declares that Russia is disappointed with France, and is no longer deceived by the French “pompous declarations of alliance”.
The Post Berliner Neueste Nachrichten, 9 April, shows a disposition to carp at the agreement. Thus the Nachrichten, while describing the entente as an “important landmark in modern history”, complains that Germany receives nothing, and does not even make the slightest protest against the partition of the Mediterranean shore by England, France, and Italy. In reward for Germany’s neutrality she is persistently accused of machinations. The paper consoles itself with the reflection that France will have to take Russia into account. A policy of chassez-croisez is therefore probable, while the Triple Alliance has received new strength. The Post appears disconcerted at the idea of an Anglo-French and Russian entente. The journal maintains that the interests of Great Britain and Russia in Asia are too antagonistic to admit of a permanent entente, but admonishes its readers to reckon with the possibility of a temporary Anglo-Russian rapprochement.
The Paris newspapers
11 April 1904
The Journal des Débats welcomes the agreement with lively satisfaction, and congratulates King Edward and President Loubet and the ministers and diplomatists concerned on having attained such a happy result. The Temps, discussing the Anglo-French conventions and declarations, says:— “To arrive at a conclusion the two countries have made great strides. A long heredity of political rivalries, awoke at each moment by colonial rivalries; anti-amical acts on both sides, which were more often so in appearance than in reality; a habit of mistrust which created hostility where there was none, which envenomed it where it pre-existed; and on the part of France unpardonable abdications, sources of sterile rancour – such was for 20 years the character of Anglo-French relations.
The Gaulois says:– “It seems to us that the advantages obtained by France, though they may flatter her amour propre, are nevertheless, more apparent than real. Great Britain appears definitely solved the Egyptian question to her own advantage, only abandoning in return territories difficult to colonise.
The Figaro says:— “The convention offers satisfactory conditions which are advantageous to both countries, except in so far as concerns Egypt, where the abandonment of the very real rights of France is only compensated by Great Britain’s renunciation of very hypothetical pretensions in Morocco.
Italy
The Tribuna, after declaring that the signing of the agreement is one of the most important events marking the beginning of the century says:— “We cannot but rejoice at this understanding which sets the coping stone on the Anglo-French entente and crowns the agreement already existing between her and France and harmonising the policy of Italy with that of the most constant and faithful friend of the nation. The Giornale d’Italia considers that after the Anglo-Japanese treaty, the Anglo-French agreement is the most important diplomatic instrument of the opening years of the new century. “Two ancient rivals,” it says, “have been reconciled.”
Spain
The comments of the Madrid papers are in somewhat bitter terms. The Diario Universal thinks it will be impossible for King Alfonso to go to Ceuta or Melilla, as such a visit would, in its opinion, amount to an endorsement of the expulsion of Spain from all concern in Moroccan affairs.
Russia
The Russ says it learns from a most authoritative source in Paris that the Russian government is in possession of indubitable proofs of the faithful adherence of President Loubet and of the French government to the Franco-Russian agreement. The Russian government, it is added, looked upon the negotiations between France and Great Britain with an absolutely friendly eye, because it held that their successful conclusion would strengthen the position of France, and that Russia might therefore expect the Republic, not only at the present moment but when the time came to conclude peace with Japan.
Our friends next door
8 April 2004
See how the Guardian reported 100 years of entente cordiale.
