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xviii. behind the scenes, their personalities, their very names, unknown to the so-called Democracy whose fate they determine. "Conversations" were also begun with the Belgian military authorities through the intermediary of the British military attaché in Brussels. Preparations for war with Germany received an enormous, impetus by official sanction being given to regular collaboration between the military and naval staffs of the two countries.

Thenceforth the Anglo-French military and naval staffs continued uninterruptedly in conference, gradually enmeshing our people in obligations which, when the fatal hour had struck, were to be called "of honour." And the people knew nothing of them! Neither were they informed when, later, a political, and equally secret, agreement clinched the military and naval "conversations"!

The Liberal Government went to Algeriras and then, with this still secret deal in its possession, signed a new international Covenant based upon tho independence and integrity of Morocco, which its partner in the deal began at once the task of infringing! Five years passed. France employed them in the process of gradually absorbing her Morocco meal. Outwardly the Morocco question slumbered. Below the surface its effects followed their inevitable course. For, dating From the beginning of the military and naval collaboration, the intrinsic character of the Morocco dispute became absorbed in the greater issue it had created, viz., Anglo-French continuous preparations for war with Germany. Between the British people and their Government lay the shadow of the unrevealod. Between the British and German people suspicion grew, misunderstanding multiplied. Mutual fears were given a free rein. The German Government learned of Sir John Fisher's "Copenhagening" policy. Naval rivalry had became intensified by the Dreadnought initiative. The Germans were genuinely alarmed. Fisher