The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-25 00:00:00

ON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1861.

ference of the Spanish Government to compel the pay-
ment of the indemnity for Morocco is not likely to
have a contrary effect, because it must disturb the
whole position of the Government in that savage country,
and the payment of the ordinary revenues is interrupted.
We find from the events of 1844, as well as from the
occurrences of two years since, that directly an enemy's
flag as rives off the coast there are certain barbarous tribes
which rise for the purpose of plunder, and all trade is at
once annihilated. I ask, if British merchants are entitled
to that protection which the noble lord assured the country
would be given to them in case of misconduct on the part of
the Spanish Government, whether occasion for it does not
now exist? The house would hardly credit the amount of
force that has been collected by Spain. The noble lord the
Prime Minister just now, in his usual pleasant manner,
sneered at what he called not a huge expedition for 3,000
men ; but what does the house think is the expedition which
Spain has prepared against Morocco ? There are 15,000
Spanish troops at this moment upon the coast of Africa.
There are also 10,000 troops in the south of Andalusia, and
the whole Spanish navy is in the waters of Algesiras,
ready to act against the coast of Morocco, and get up a
squabble with this country, perhaps at the instigation of a
neighbour. The Governor of Gibralter has visited the
Spanish squadron at Algesiras, and has reported the excel-
lence both oldie ships and crews. Now, I wish to ask the
noble lord whether her Majesty's Government has at all in-
terfered with the object of effecting a settlement of the dis-
pute between Morocco and Spain ? I have recently heard
that her Majesty's Government has made some proposition
for an arrangement. A peaceful settlement of the dispute
will be most satisfactory, and the noble lord will gain great
credit with all persons connected with the trade and aom-
merce of that part of the world if he arrives at a satisfactory
solution of the difficulty. I believe the French Government
has also offered its services for the same purpose; but it will
be better if her Majesty's Government, so excellently repre-
sented by our Minister at Tangier, Mr. Drummond Hay,
can effect it unassisted. From the great influence Mr. Hay
possesses in the empire of Morocco, I believe, if he has
the treatment of the matter, he will be able to bring it to
a satisfactory conclusion. The noble lord, before the
commencement of the last war obtained from the
Spanish Government an assurance in writing, twice
repeated, that on no account whatever would Spain-
ever occupy any part of the coast of Morocco. I ask
the noble lord to hold Spain to that pledge, given in 1859,
and not to permit the Spanish Government, to the detri •
ment of British trade, to occupy any portion of the Morocco
coast. And I will ask the house if the Government of Spain
is one that ought to attack the Empire of Morocco in the
way it is doing ? Because Morocco has not exactly kept
a treaty, is Spain
,therefore justified in sending an
enormous army to invade a State at this moment in con-
vulsions ? We know that the Spanish Government itself
has not been so very strict in its adherence to treaties.
(Hear, hear.) The noble lord at the head of the Govern-
ment lately spoke of the disgraceful conduct of Spain in
reference to a treaty with this country. England entered
into an agreement with Spain for the suppression of the
slave trade, and paid money to the Spanish Government for
that purpose. Spain not only entered into a solemn engage-
ment by treaty to suppress the slave trade, but received a
sum of money to do it. What was the consequence ? Spain
took the money, but in every possible way fostered and
propagated that infamous traffic. (Hear, hear.) At this
moment the Captain-Generalship of Cuba is the most lucra-
tive appointment in the hands of any Government in the
world—and why ?On account of the head-money levied
for every slave imported into the colony. Spain, therefore,
is not the Government that ought at once to proceed to such
extremities against Morocco for the non observance of a
treaty. Again, has Spain always been so very pune•
tual in her , own money transactions ? She is going to
war on account of the non-fulfilment of a money con-
tract by Morocco ; but how has Spain acted towards the
poor Spanish bondholders in this country ? How does she
treat them ? I believe in 1834 the Spanish Government
actually owed to British subjects no less than 90 millions
sterling ! How did it settle the claim ? Did the British
Government force Spainto pay the debt, as Spain is forcing
Morocco ? In 1834 a compromise was made, by which the
debt was reduced 33 per cent., besides the loss of many
years' interest. In 1850 another arrangement was made,
and by an arbitrary act of the Government the interest on
the debt was reduced from.five to three per cent., with the
confiscation of seven millions of interest overdue. Again,
the house will recollect that last year the payment of a
debt of £400,000 was required from Spain by the British
Government ; that sum had been due for 20 years ; it was
never demanded for 20 years ; yet it was paid with the
worst possible grace, and in Spain much ill-feeling and ill-
blood was excited towards this country. I ask the noble
lord also to consider this : there is a system of annexation
being pursued, not only by Trance, but by Spain, that re-
quires his vigilant and active attention. The annexation
of St. Domingo is a most serious and dangerous precedent.
We have heard no opinion from her Majesty's Government
on that subject. The noble lord read the other night a de-
spatch, in which Marshal O'Donnell told him that
the slave trade is not to be introduced into that island.
(Hear, hear.) But, considering that Cuba is the hotbed of
the slave trade, and that St. Domingo is only 60 miles dis-
tant, there is some danger of the traffic being extended to L.
But now that the coast of Morocco is threatened by the
Spanish Government I hope the noble lord will give an
assurance to the country, and to those British merchants
through whose hands nearly the whole commerce of the
country passes, that these Spanish forces will not arrive off
the ports of Morocco and excite a feeling among the bar-
barous tribes that may cause them to make attacks on those
towns. I hope the Spanish Government will be prepared
to treat these questions in a generous spirit, and not press
the Government of Morocco to extremities.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the question put by the right
hon, baronet may be separated into two parts, and in reply-
ing to it I think it will be most convenient if I refrain
from entering into the merits of the former war between
Spain and Morocco, or into the question of the Cuban
slave trade, and the manner in which Spain has
fulfilled her engagements with respect to it with other
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empire and Spain was terminated by an engagement, can.
taining a stipulation that Morocco should pay to Spain an
indemnity of £20,000,000 dols., and that, till 12,000,000 of
that sum were paid Spain should continue to eccupy part
of the territory. In the course of time the engagements of
that treaty have given rise to disputes and differences be-
tween the two countries. On the one hand the Government
of Moroedo states that the Moors, regarding Tetuan as a holy
city, have become dissatisfied and disaffected at its occupation
by foreign troops. On the other hand, the Spanish Govern-
ment complains of a want of good faith on the part of
Morocco as to the payment of the indemnity. Her Majes-
ty's Government have asked the Government of Spain
what is the cause of its assembling these land and sea
forces ? The Spanish Government states that some of its
troops in the territory of Morocco are surrounded by bar-
barous tribes, who are constantly breaking out into acts of
violence, and that Morocco refuses to pay the instalments
of the indemnity. On this explanation being given her Ma-
jesty's Government proffered its good offices to the Govern-
ment of Spain, with the view of obtaining a settlement of
the dispute. At the same time we entered into communica-
tion with the Government of Morocco through Mr. Drum-
mond Hay, to whose services the hon. baronet has alluded.
We have received front the Government of Morocco the
assurance that nothing but its inability to raise the money
at this moment has prevented it from paying the instal-
ments of the indemnity, that the interruption of the pay-
ment is not the fault of the Government, nor is it caused by
the want of inclination, but the disturbed state of the coun-
try renders the Government enable at this moment to pay
the 4,500,000 dollars that:are due out of the 12,000,000 dol-
lars of the stipulation. The Government of Spain, on its
part, has accepted the good offices of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and certain terms have been discussed between them.
When those terms were sent out to Morocco Mr. Hay was
desired to prepare himself to go to the Court of Morocco

necessary. A message was received from the Sultan star

ing that it would be very agreeable to him if Mr. Hay
would proued to his court; and it is believed that his pre-
sence there will have considerable effect. On the other

hand, the Spanish Government appears quite wil-
ling to wait till the terms thus proposed have been con-
sidered by the Government of Morocco. And I must say
that the Spanish Government has declared, in all good
faith, that the occupation of Tetuan by 15,000 troops is an
inconvenience and a source of considerable expense, and
that she wishes to hold no further security than is neces-
sary to obtain payment Df the indemnity. The Spanish
Government are quite wiling to consider any reasonable
terms; but it is obvious that they cannot, consistently with
the dignity of the Spanish nation, consent that the treaty,
in which in it is stipulated that a sum shall be paid by
Morocco, should not be carried out. I cannot deny that