-this is the ideal reserved for
mankind and summed up in words "British interests."

Turn where you will these interests are in effective occupation, and
whether it be Madeira, Teneriffe, Agadir, Tahiti, Bagdad, the unseen
flag is more potent to exclude the non-British intruder than the
visible standard of the occupying tenant. England is the landlord of
civilization, mankind her tenantry, and the earth her estate. If this
be not a highly exaggerated definition of British interests, and in
truth it is but a strongly coloured chart of the broad outline of
the design, then it is clear that Europe has a very serious problem
to face if European civilization and ideals, as differing from the
British type, are to find a place for their ultimate expansion in any
region favoured by the sun.

The actual conflict of European interests in Morocco is a fair
illustration of English methods.[1]

[Footnote 1: This was written in August, 1911.]

In the past France was the great antagonist, but since she is to-day
no longer able to seriously dispute the British usufruct of the
overseas world she is used (and rewarded) in the struggle now
maintained to exclude Germany at all costs from the arena. Were France
still dangerous she would never have been allowed to go to Algeciras,
or from Algeciras to Fez. She has uses, however, in the anti-German
prize ring and so Morocco is the price of her hire. That Germany
should presume to inspect the transaction or claim a share in the
settlement has filled the British mind with profound indignation, the
echoes of which are heard rumbling round the world from the Guildhall
to Gaboon and from the Congo to Tahiti. The mere press rumour that
France might barter Tahiti for German goods filled the British
newspaper world with supermundane wrath. That France should presume
to offer or Germany should accept a French Pacific island in part
discharge of liabilities contracted at Algeciras was a threat to
British interests. Tahiti in the hands of a decadent republic, the
greatest if you will, but still one of the dying nations, is a thing
to be borne with, but Tahiti possibly in the hands of Germany becomes
at once a challenge and a threat.

And so we learn that "Australasia protests" to the Home Government
at the mere rumour that France may choose to part with one of her
possessions to win German goodwill in Morocco. Neither France nor
Germany can be permitted to be a free agent in a transaction that
ho