Disoders in Morocco in the spring of 1911 led to military intervention by both France and Spain. When the French forces entered Fez (May 21, 1911), which was beyond the limits of French police authority as specified in the Algeciras agreement [see the First Moroccan Crisis], another crisis erupted between France and Germany. France and England, meanwhile, vigorously protested the Spanish intervention.

Germany accused (June 21) the French of attempting to organize a protectorate in Morocco and, on July 1, dispatched the gunboat _Panther_ to Agadir in a show-of-strength. While German-French discussions over the issue centered on possible French concessions in the Congo for a free hand in Morocco, nervousness of the possibility of war was heightened by an inflamatory speech (July 21) by Britain's Lloyd George, then the Chancellor of the Exchequer, vaguely warning of British military action against Germany. Three days later Germany began "routine" military maneuvers. On August 8 the French stated that France and Britain would _their_ warships to Agadir if no progress toward an agreement had been made in the next eight days. Tensions remained high throughout August with military preparations and maneuvers on both sides in late August and early September. Negotiations, nevertheless, continued.

The diplomatic atmosphere improved toward the end of September and a compromise agreement was reached finally on November 4, 1911. France gained its desired protectorate in Morocco. German commercial interests in Morocco were guaranteed, and France ceded Germany a piece of the French Congo with access to the sea.