The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-25 00:00:00

SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

Interesting news from Morocco was received by
the Ripon mail-packet, which arrived at Southamp-
ton yesterday morning. Our Gibraltar correspon-
dent, writing at' the moment of the steamer's depar-
ture (4 p.m. on the 18th), says :
" We learn just now, via Spain, that the declara-
tion of war against Morocco has been made."
The following is from the Gibraltar chronicle of
the 18th :

" The rupture of pacific relations between Spain
and Morocco is in all probability an accomplished
fact. Letters from Tangier, written yesterday,
state that it was expected the Spanish Consul
would strike his flag in the course of the day. Mr.
Blanco del Valle returned to Tangier from Alge-
siras on the night of the 16th, and was the bearer
of demands which it was considered impossible the
Moorish Government could admit. These demands
are said to comprise a cession of territory adjoin-
ing Ceuta, so extensive as to include the Sierra
Bullones, taking in Cape Negro in the direction of
Tetuan and Apes'-hill on the Straits. If this de-
mand be persisted in war is considered inevitable.
No Sultan of Morocco could consent to such an
alienation of national territory ; and even were the
Moorish Government to yield on this point it is
considered doubtful whether war would be averted,
since this concession would probably cost the Sultan
his throne. We subjoin extracts from a few of the
communications that have been received :
" Tangier, Oct. 17..
" We are no longer in uncertainty as to the in-
tentions of Spain. The Sultan not being able to sub-
mit to the fresh demands of the Cabinet of Madrid,
we can no longer doubt the issue of negotiations-
-this issue is war.'
" Another correspondent writes
" ' The Europeans were yesterday actively em-
ployed in shipping their property on board all the
available craft in the harbour preparatory to em-
barking their persons this day. Her Majesty's
steam sloop Vulture and gunboat Coquette were
at anchor, and it was expected the British
Chargé d'Affaires would sec all the subjects
of his nation safely on board before embark-
ing himself in one of her Majesty's ships.
The whole of the population of the city
was in the greatest consternation, especially the
foreigners, who were most anxious for vessels to
save their property as well as their persons. The
Moorish authorities put no impediment in the way
of any of the Europeans who wished to take their
departure, nor even did they interfere with the
baggage or other articles which they were sending
away. - The foreign consuls, with their families,
attaches, &c., would, it was said, be taken on board
the British and French men-of-war in the harbour.
The Moorish Government was expecting to hear of
the declaration of war which the Government of
Spain had threatened them with.'
" Another letter of the same date says :
" Great consternation prevails in this city, and
preparations on the part of a great number of
Europeans and others are making to leave the
country. Mr. Blanco arrived here in a Spanish
steam frigate ; he remains on board, as the vessel is
in quarantine. The Spaniards have asked officially
for Apes'-hill.
" ' It is reported here that the Spanish forces will
make an attack both by sea and land, and after-
wards occupy Tetuan and Tangier.
"' It is likewise said that Mr. Blanco has de-
manded 5,000,000 Cols, to indemnify the Snanish
Government for the expenses they have been put to
in preparing the expedition.
" Yesterday, being a Moorish holiday, a number
of tribes from the district of Angera came into the
town. In consequence of this, El Katib re-
quested Mr. Drummond Hay to dissuade the
Europeans from embarking then, fearing it would
give these tribes a pretext for committing ex-
cesses, if they observed the least sign of a commo-
tion. Mr. Drummond Hay, understanding these
tribes would return to their homes in the evening,
promised El Katib that he would delay the embar-
kation of the British subjects until this day (the
18th), when he expected there would be a sufficient
number of vessels to take off all the Europeans and
others of the population who wished to avail them-
selves of the opportunity, especially as El Katib
had instructed the administrator of customs to offer
no impediment to those who wished to embark.
" • Mr. George V. Brown, United States' Consul,
was preparin,g-to leave for Gibraltar, bringing with
him all his baggage, horses, &e.'
" Another letter speaks of Mulai Abbas, brother
of the present Emperor, being expected at Tangier
with 30,000 men ; and that our British Charge
d'Affaires will embark is one of her Majesty's ships
of war, which will remain off that port."
The troops in the neighbourhood of Algesiras
had received orders to prepare to encamp. A float-
ing hospital, having room for patients, had been
established at Algesiras.
The Portuguese schooner Amalia arrived at Gib-
raltar on the 14th from Mazagan, which port she
left on the evening of the 11th. Great was the
discontent observable in that town among the few
Europeans residing there, arising from the want of
confidence on the part of a number of natives,
who, it was firmly believed, were seeking
some pretext or other to seize -upon Govern-
ment property. Grain from the interior continued
to be imported into the market, and the vessels in
harbour were loading as quick as possible for
fear of an outbreak. The letters from Mazagan
also mention that the Governor of Azamoor had
broken faith with the Mazaganese. This is the
more to be regretted because, in the event of any
disturbance occurring in the town, the Government
soldiers in Azamor will be prevented rendering as-
sistance, as they have hitherto been in the habit of
doing.
A letter, dated the 16th, from the Tangier corres-
pondent of the Gibraltar Chronicle, announces that
the new Sultan 0? Morocco has conferred a great
boon by granting the free exportation of wool :
"The Sultan's authority in Morocco is now con-
solidated, and consequently all fears entertained of
a conspiracy against his Majesty are dissipated,
especially since adopting very, popular measures,
which have highly raised him in the estimation of
every one in his dominions.
" His Majesty the Sultan has permitted the ex-
portation of wool prohibited some time ago by his
late father. From the manner in which this news
came to my knowledge it is worthy of the greatest
credit, and Mr. Drummond Hay has communicated
the same to some merchants of this place, who in-
stantly chartered a small vessel to convey the intel-
ligence to Gibraltar, and she left this day.
The decree will not, it is expected, be promul-
gated before the lapse of a month.
" Several commercial houses at Mazagan which,
during the prohibition, largely speculated in this
article, will now realise immense profits by this
measure.
"It seems from the above that the Emperor is
desirous of extending vmmilerce in his dominions,