ABSTRACT
The Morocco crises led to an improvement in Anglo-French relations but a worsening of Franco-German relations and were consequently of decisive importance to the constellation of Europe as it entered the First World War. Imperialism was thus conducive to conflict. It led to the development of international conflicts, but it also provided the means of solving such conflicts, namely by international barter at the expense of the overseas peoples. The first known description of war aims was the 'September Program' of Bethmann Hollweg dating from September 1914. It also contained a section on colonial aims, the core of which was the creation of a German 'Middle Africa'. The allies tried desperately to involve other countries in their affairs and their efforts were sometimes successful. Japan immediately joined them, acquiring, through a treaty with Britain, control of the former German colonies in Asia north of the equator. Australia and New Zealand were given the colonies to the south of the equator.
