Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/94

 mpaign of systematic untruth. Masters of almost the entire press, they swamped the public with false news. Fez was represented as threatened by siege or sack. A whole European French Colony was suddenly discovered there, living in anguish. The ultimate fate of the women and children was described in the most moving terms. . . . At all costs the Europeans the Sultan, Fez itself must be saved. ... As ever from the beginning of this en- terprise, the Government knew nothing, willed nothing of itself."

While these events were happening, the Foreign Offices both in Paris and London failed to give any information concerning the aims which un- derlay the action taken. On May 23d, Mr., Dillon in the House of Commons asked to what extent England was committed to this ' ' ill-omened and cruel expedition." The Foreign Secretary replied, "We are not committed at all." The French Foreign Minister declared at the same time that he had never heard of any treaty with Spain concerning Morocco.

When the international crisis came to a head suddenly in July, 1911, through the disconcerting action of the German Government in sending a war vessel to Agadir, the public was totally taken by surprise and was absolutely in the dark as to the issues and interests involved as well as to the commitments which had been made by the British