May 21, 1911
(World War 100: 1 July - The Agadir Crisis of 1911, OpenLearn)
The Second Moroccan Crisis or Agadir Crisis began when France brought troops over to the city, Fez, in Morocco to prevent rebellions. Earlier that year in March, France said that tribes and groups were causing trouble and planning to start a rebellion in Morocco. This meant that the city of Fez was in danger. As a result, the sultan of Morocco was forced to get help from France to control these groups.
Later on July 1, 1911, a gunboat was sent to the port of Agadir in Morocco by Germany. The gunboat, called the Panther, was brought to scare the French. Just like Germany's motivations during the First Moroccan Crisis, their motivations were to separate the alliance between France and Great Britain and to maintain Germany as a strong European power. The Panther caused tensions between Great Britain and Germany because of the competition between their navies. Britain saw the Panther as Germany trying to create a naval base at Morocco's Atlantic coast and interfering with their naval domination of the Atlantic Ocean.
The result of the Second Moroccan Crisis was the same as the First Moroccan Crisis. Germany's actions caused another conference to occur in order to settle the problems. Germany was still unable to break apart the alliance between France and Great Britain. The conference following the Second Moroccan Crisis ended on November 4, 1911, with France and Germany making an agreement. France would be allowed to continue their activity in Morocco without Germany intervening only if they gave something back to Germany in return. As a result, Germany got parts of the French Congo in Africa to make up for France getting Morocco. Still, Germany got the bad end of the deal. They were given land that nobody wanted, in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, France now had full permission to make Morocco into a protectorate. The agreements made after the Second Moroccan Crisis led to the creation of the Treaty of Fez (Second Moroccan Crisis, History.com; World War 100: 1 July - The Agadir Crisis of 1911, OpenLearn; Events Leading to World War 1, Historyannex.com).
Later on July 1, 1911, a gunboat was sent to the port of Agadir in Morocco by Germany. The gunboat, called the Panther, was brought to scare the French. Just like Germany's motivations during the First Moroccan Crisis, their motivations were to separate the alliance between France and Great Britain and to maintain Germany as a strong European power. The Panther caused tensions between Great Britain and Germany because of the competition between their navies. Britain saw the Panther as Germany trying to create a naval base at Morocco's Atlantic coast and interfering with their naval domination of the Atlantic Ocean.
The result of the Second Moroccan Crisis was the same as the First Moroccan Crisis. Germany's actions caused another conference to occur in order to settle the problems. Germany was still unable to break apart the alliance between France and Great Britain. The conference following the Second Moroccan Crisis ended on November 4, 1911, with France and Germany making an agreement. France would be allowed to continue their activity in Morocco without Germany intervening only if they gave something back to Germany in return. As a result, Germany got parts of the French Congo in Africa to make up for France getting Morocco. Still, Germany got the bad end of the deal. They were given land that nobody wanted, in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moreover, France now had full permission to make Morocco into a protectorate. The agreements made after the Second Moroccan Crisis led to the creation of the Treaty of Fez (Second Moroccan Crisis, History.com; World War 100: 1 July - The Agadir Crisis of 1911, OpenLearn; Events Leading to World War 1, Historyannex.com).
Primary Sources: Effects of the Second Moroccan Crisis
Now we know where our enemy stands. Like a flash of lightning in the night, these events have shown the German people where its enemy is.... When the hour of decision comes we are Personally I am a sincere advocate of all means which would lead to the settlement of international disputes by methods such as those which civilization has so successfully set up for the adjustment of differences between individuals, and I rejoice in my heart at the prospect of a happy issue to Sir Edward Grey's negotiations with the United States of America for the settlement of disputes which may occur in future between ourselves and our kinsmen across the Atlantic by some more merciful, more rational, and by a more just arbitrament than that of the sword. |
This excerpt is from a speech made by Kaiser Wilhelm to the German Parliament after the Second Moroccan Crisis in November, 1911. The events of the Second Moroccan Crisis left Germany unhappy with the outcome. France was able to get their way and was permitted to colonize Morocco while Germany was given an area of the Congo that was French (Events Leading to World War 1, Historyannex.com). In Kaiser Wilhelm's speech, he says that he has learned who the enemy is after the Second Moroccan Crisis. The speech shows that he is mad because he talks about how Germany is willing to take extreme measures. The Kaiser is ready for sacrifices of "blood and treasure" (Palgrave Macmillan - Mastering Modern World History).
This excerpt comes from a speech made by the British. The speech was given on July 22, 1911, soon after the Germans brought their ship, Panther, into the Moroccan port by Lloyd George. At the time of the Second Moroccan Crisis Lloyd George's role was the chancellor of Great Britain. George made the speech to the British in the Mansion House which was partially to inform the people of the threat the Germans posed (Agadir Crisis: Lloyd George's Mansion House Speech). In this speech, George begins by talking about how he is aware of all of the problems and tensions between all the nations and that he wants to help solve the problems. Still, he thinks that it is necessary for the British to maintain there status as one of the stronger nations. Overall, the chancellor is only willing to go so far to help maintain peace between the other countries. His belief is that it does not make sense for Great Britain to keep peace if it involves the country giving up the power that they have worked hard to earn and that it would be embarrassing for a nation as strong as Great Britain. |