Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/809

Origin of the War of 1914 605 from the Algerian border. The Entente was hailed with great satisfaction on both sides of the English Channel. England had even earlier made a treaty with Japan, and now she came to terms with her ancient rival Russia. The Tsar's armies had been gradually penetrating nearer and nearer to India, and a conflict with the British seemed likely to come at any mo- ment. -However, in 1907, the two powers settled their dispute by each carving out a sphere of influence in Persia and agreeing not to interfere with one another. These two great powers were by no means naturally friends, for the British hated the Russian autocracy and London was a place of refuge for Russian revolu- tionists. The Russian government, on the other hand, disliked the English ideas of liberty. 1098. Europe on the Brink of War ; Morocco. One great power seemed to be excluded from this new cordial understand- ing that was Germany. The German newspapers denounced the Entente as hostile to their land and designed to encircle the Cen- tral Powers Germany and Austria as with an iron ring. In 1905, therefore, Germany, supported by Austria, objected to the agreement between England and France by which the latter was to have a free hand in Morocco. Germany claimed to have interests there, too, and the emperor spoke in such a -way as to bring on a general "war scare." France agreed to a conference at Algeciras, Spain, in which the United States took an active part. This body granted the French police power in Morocco but guaranteed the latter 's independence. In 1911 Germany in- terfered again in Morocco. Because there were a few Germans in that country she sent a cruiser to Agadir and boldly demanded that France consult her in Moroccan matters and change her policy of policing the country. War was very narrowly averted. France gave up some of its possessions on the Congo to Germany in order to be allowed a free hand in Morocco. The Agadir incident alarmed statesmen in 'England as well. Everyone saw how near Europe had come to the brink of war. Imperialists in Germany said the Agadir incident had been a