First and Second Moroccan Crises

First Moroccan Crisis

The defeat of Russia in 1905 gave Germany an opportunity to escape the encirclement created by the Franco-Russian alliance and the Anglo-French entente. Germany's first attempt to capitalise on this situation was the first Moroccan crisis of 1905. In January 1905 the French sought to impose reforms on Morocco, thus seeking to turn Morocco into a French protectorate. Since this would damage German commerce the Germans had a legitimate concern - but this did not justify the Kaiser going there in person, and landing at Tangier in March 1905.

In April the Germans called for an international conference on Morocco, and a guarantee of German commercial freedom in Morocco. However, once again there was a lack of clear direction in German policy. They had the ulterior motive of hoping to weaken and destroy the Anglo-British entente. It is also possible that the Germans sought a pretext for a preventative war against France whilst Russia was still weak. The effect was to create panic in the French government. In response to the pressure the French politicians brought about the fall of Declassé from power - he had devised the Entente Cordiale. He was forced to resign in June. The French also agreed to a conference on Morocco to be held at Algiéres in 1906. France had been made to suffer a diplomatic defeat, and the Anglo-British entente appeared to be breaking up.

Meanwhile, the Kaiser sought to persuade Russia into a new alliance with Germany, which would create a 'continental league' directed at Britain. With this in the offing the Germans decided not to press their advantage over France regarding Morocco. Meanwhile, the advent of a Liberal party administration in Britain, Sir Edward Grey became foreign secretary, and he adopted a policy of uncategorical support for France at the Algeçiras conference. Thus, as a result of the conference, France remained in control of the Moroccan police and state bank and the Germans had only a guarantee of commercial freedom, which they had anyway. Ironically, the Germans might have forced concessions from France - for example, in Central Africa - by dealing directly with France.

The First Moroccan Crisis thus strengthened Anglo-French cooperation, in complete contradiction to German intentions. In January 1906 Gray agreed to Anglo-British joint military operations. From this crisis onwards the British saw the Germans as the threat to peace and security in Europe. In April 1906 the British began negotiating with the Russians over Persia, Tibet and Afghanistan. By August 1907 it was agreed to partition Persia into three zones of influence - Russian, British and neutral. Gray was also prepared to reverse the British policy of closing the straits against Russia.

In 1908 the Young Turks came to power in Turkey. They sought to restore Bosnia to Turkish rule. To counter this the Austrians decided to annex the province. The Turks wanted compensation and the Serbs sought Russian support. The Russian Foreign Minister, Izvolsky, agreed to the annexation of Bosnia in return for the reversal of the Rule of the Straits of 1841. But Izvolsky acted without the knowledge of the Russian government and the Austrians suddenly announced the annexation. The Serbs threatened war, but the Germans supported Austria, offering full mobilisation if necessary. The Russians and Serbs were forced to back down. The Russians were humiliated and the Austro-Russian détente of 1897 was destroyed.

The Second Moroccan Crisis: the Agadir Crisis, 1908-12

During the winter of 1908-9 British public opinion became intensely alarmed at the expansion of the German fleet. In 1906 the British ship, the Dreadnought, had made all pre-existing ships obsolete, and hence destroyed the British lead in warships. German Navy Laws of 1898 and 1900 aimed at creating a German battle fleet of 60 warships capable of operations in the North Sea. The British responded by concentrating their fleet in home waters. In 1906 the Liberal government sought to reduce the ship-building programme, but the effect of public opinion was to force them to increase ship-building instead! The Germans sought to isolate Britain by offering a neutrality agreement in return for a reduction in navy building. The naval rivalry did immense damage to Anglo-German relations. In order to avert the threat of invasion the British were prepared to maintain naval supremacy regardless of cost.

In July 1911 the Second Moroccan Crisis began when the German gunboat, the Panther, docked at the Moroccan port of Agadir. This was following the French occupation of Fez, the capital of Morocco, after a revolt. French officials were also obstructing German commercial interests. The Germans sought territorial compensation from the French. The German foreign minister, Kiderlen, set the price too high - he wanted the whole of the French Congo. British opinion was alarmed and even the pro-German Lloyd George in his Mansion House speech of July signaled opposition to Germany over the Moroccan crisis. In November, the Franco-German accord ceded only small parts of the French Congo in Germany. The British sought once again an understanding with the Germans, but the visit of Lord Haldane, British war minister, in February 1912 to Berlin was unsuccessful. As a result, the British concluded a naval agreement with France in 1912-13, in which the French took over responsibility for security in the Mediterranean.

Anglo-French Relations

Practical cooperation between Britain and France developed. The 1905-6 First Moroccan Crisis lead to staff level talks between Britain and France. In 1912 there was an informal agreement that in the event of war the French fleet would concentrate in the Mediterranean, whilst the British fleet would concentrate in the North Sea.