This Day in History: July 1, 1911
Additional Date: July 1, 1911
On 1 July 1911, the deployment of the German gunboat, the Panther to Agadir, Morocco, contributed significantly to the tension between the European powers in the period before World War I. In 1911, a rebellion broke out in Morocco against the Sultan, Abdelhafid. In response to the uprising, the French in April 1911 dispatched troops to prop up the Sultan's regime.
This move was strongly discouraged by the British, as this move would encourage the other European powers to also reinforce their colonies with more garrisons. While the French were transporting troops to Morocco, the Spanish used the upheaval to occupy territory in French Morocco. Germany, as a rising superpower in Europe at the time was competing with the British in relation to naval supremacy; this too heightened the tension in Europe. With the deployment of the Panther to Agadir, the Germans thought that the British would side with them against the French, and possibly request some sort of alliance.
This was however not the case as this act drew the British and French together and eventually culminated in an alliance between them. The aftermath of this crisis also included a German demand for compensation from the French, as they had safeguarded French financial interests in Morocco. As compensation the Germans demanded a large tract of territory in the Congo. This demand was rejected by Britain, stating that agreeing to this demand would amount to considerable humiliation for France. France did eventually agree to the German demands, but on considerably reduced terms. This incident is considered the most famous case of 'gunboat' diplomacy.