Oie innere Entwicklungsgeschichte des Oreiverbandes. 71 
  
Brief Sir E. Greys an den französischen 
Botschafter Paul Cambon. 
Foreign Office, November 22, 1912. 
My dear Ambassador! From time to time in 
recent years the French and British naval and military 
experts have consulted together. It has always been 
understood that such consultation does not restrict 
the freedom of either Covernment to decide at any 
future time whether or not to assist the other by 
armed force. We have agreed that consultation 
between experts is not, and ought not to be regarded 
as an engagement that commits either Covernment 
to action in a contingency that has not arisen and may 
never arise. The disposition, for instance, of the 
French and British fleets respectively at the present 
moment is not based upon an engagement to cooperate 
in war. 
Vou have, howewer, pointed out that, if either 
Covernment hat grave reason to expect an unprovoked 
attack by a third Power, it might become essential 
to know whether it could in that event depend upon 
the armed assistance of the other. 
I agree that, if either Covernment had grave 
reason to expect an unprovoked attack by a third 
Power, or something that threatened the general 
peace, it should inmnediately discuss with the other 
whether both Covernments should act together to 
prevent aggression and to preserve peace, and, if 
so, what measures they would be prepared to take 
in common. If these measures involved action, the 
plans of the GCeneral Staffs would at once be taken 
into consideration, and the Covernments would then 
decide, what effect should be given to them.