The present crisis has originated differently.  It has not originated with regard to Morocco.

It has not originated as regards anything with which we had a special agreement with France; it has not originated with anything which primarily concerned France.  It has originated in a dispute between Austria and Servia.  I can say this with the most absolute confidence—­no Government and no country has less desire to be involved in war over a dispute with Austria and Servia than the Government and the country of France.  They are involved in it because of their obligation of honour under a definite alliance with Russia.  Well, it is only fair to say to the House that that obligation of honour cannot apply in the same way to us.  We are not parties to the Franco-Russian Alliance.  We do not even know the terms of that Alliance.  So far I have, I think, faithfully and completely cleared the ground with regard to the question of obligation.

I now come to what we think the situation requires of us.  For many years we have had a long-standing friendship with France.  I remember well the feeling in the House—­and my own feeling—­for I spoke on the subject, I think, when the late Government made their agreement with France—­the warm and cordial feeling resulting from the fact that these two nations, who had had perpetual differences in the past, had cleared these differences away.  I remember saying, I think, that it seemed to me that some benign influence had been at work to produce the cordial atmosphere that had made that possible.  But how far that friendship entails obligation—­it has been a friendship between the nations and ratified by the nations—­how far that entails an obligation, let every man look into his own heart, and his own feelings, and construe the extent of the obligation for himself.  I construe it myself as I feel it, but I do not wish to urge upon any one else more than their feelings dictate as to what they should feel about the obligation.  The House, individually and collectively, may judge for itself.  I speak my personal view, and I have given the House my own feeling in the matter.

The French fleet is now in the Mediterranean, and the northern and western coasts of France are absolutely undefended.  The French fleet being concentrated in the Mediterranean, the situation is very different from what it used to be, because the friendship which has grown up between the two countries has given them a sense of security that there was nothing to be feared from us.

The French coasts are absolutely undefended.  The French fleet is in the Mediterranean, and has for some years been concentrated there because of the feeling of confidence and friendship which has existed between the two countries.  My own feeling is that if a foreign fleet, engaged in a war which France had not sought, and in which she had not been the aggressor, came down the English Channel and bombarded and battered the undefended coasts of France, we could not stand aside and see this going on practically within sight of our eyes, with our arms folded, looking on dispassionately, doing nothing!  I believe that would be the feeling of this country.  There are times when one feels that if these circumstances actually did arise, it would be a feeling which would spread with irresistible force throughout the land.