Question 12
How significant were the Moroccan Crises of 1905 and 1911?
Paragraph One
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The crises need to be seen in the context of the Entente Cordiale (1904)- agreed to end Anglo-French colonial rivalry
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France agreed to Great British control in Egypt in return for Morocco
Paragraph Two
The 1905 Crisis:
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Kaiser’s intervention had little to do with economic interests and was more about the Entente:
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It was made at a time when Russia was in the aftermath of defeat in the Russo-Japanese War and was in a poor position to help France
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He hoped to expose the weakness of Great Britain’s support for France
The Algeciras Conference
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Called to settle the matter
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All the powers (except Austria) backed France
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Great Britain began defensive military arrangements with France
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This crisis was the real end of Great Britain’s ‘splendid isolation’
Paragraph Three
The Agadir Incident (1911)
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Great Britain and France saw the arrival of the Panther (German warship) as another challenge to the Entente
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Great Britain alarmed possibility of German naval base so close to Gibraltar
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Lloyd George said ‘peace at that price would be a humiliation intolerable for a great country like ours to endure’ – Berlin took note because Lloyd George was more well-disposed towards Germany than many of his colleagues
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So – Germany recognised the French position in Morocco in return for the French Congo
Paragraph Four
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Both crises enhanced Anglo-French relations
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2nd crisis put spotlight on Anglo-German relations in the years prior to 1914 War
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Talk of war but no particular issue that would warrant it
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Germany wanted a dazzling diplomatic victory
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Great Britain feared an upset of the balance of power if Germany triumphed at expense of France
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Both sides convinced that a North African colonial dispute would affect the European balance of power
Paragraph Five
The legacy of the Moroccan problem:
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Intensified Anglo-German suspicion and hostility
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Agadir Crisis ended hope of improved Franco-German relations
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Affected public opinion:
a) In Germany the Pan-German League and Tirpitz used national sense of humiliation to demand an expansion of the fleet
b) Second Moroccan Crisis led to Italy demanding compensation for French gains in Morocco – declared war on Turkey (1911) and landed an army in Tripoli (this encouraged outbreak of First Balkan War)
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