Ambassador
and the German Ambassador at the time. I made no promise and I used no
threats; but I expressed that opinion. That position was accepted by the
French Government, but they said to me at the time, and I think very
reasonably, "If you think it possible that the public opinion of Great
Britain might, should a sudden crisis arise, justify you in giving to
France the armed support which you cannot promise in advance, you will
not be able to give that support, even if you wish it, when the time
comes, unless some conversations have already taken place between naval
and military experts." There was force in that. I agreed to it, and
authorized those conversations to take place, but on the distinct
understanding that nothing which passed between military or naval
experts should bind either Government or restrict in any way their
freedom to make a decision as to whether or not they would give that
support when the time arose.

As I have told the House, upon that occasion a general election was in
prospect; I had to take the responsibility of doing that without the
Cabinet. It could not be summoned. An answer had to be given. I
consulted Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, the Prime Minister; I consulted,
I remember, Lord Haldane, who was then Secretary of State for War, and
the present Prime Minister, who was then Chancellor of the Exchequer.
That was the most I could do, and they authorized that, on the distinct
understanding that it left the hands of the Government free whenever the
crisis arose. The fact that conversations between military and naval
experts took place was later on--I think much later on, because that
crisis passed, and the thing ceased to be of importance--but later on it
was brought to the knowledge of the Cabinet.

The Agadir crisis came--another Morocco crisis--and throughout that I
took precisely the same line that had been taken in 1906. But
subsequently, in 1912, after discussion and consideration in the
Cabinet, it was decided that we ought to have a definite understanding
in writing, which was to be only in the form of an unofficial letter,
that these conversations which took place were not binding upon the
freedom of either Government; and on the 22d November, 1912, I wrote to
the French Ambassador the letter which I will now read to the House, and
I received from him a letter in similar terms in reply. The letter which
I have to read to the House is this, and it will be known to the public
n