I said then that I could promise nothing to any foreign
power unless it was subsequently to receive the whole-hearted support of
public opinion here if the occasion arose. I said, in my opinion, if war
was forced upon France then on the question of Morocco--a question which
had just been the subject of agreement between this country and France,
an agreement exceedingly popular on both sides--that if out of that
agreement war was forced on France at that time, in my view public
opinion in this country would have rallied to the material support of
France.
I gave no promise, but I expressed that opinion during the crisis, as
far as I remember almost in the same words, to the French Ambassador
and the German Ambassador at the time. I made no promise and I used no
threats; but I expressed that opinion. That position was accepted by the
French Government, but they said to me at the time, and I think very
reasonably, "If you think it possible that the public opinion of Great
Britain might, should a sudden crisis arise, justify you in giving to
France the armed support which you cannot promise in advance, you will
not be able to give that support, even if you wish it, when the time
comes, unless some conversations have already taken place between naval
and military experts.
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