Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-25
SPAIN And ENGLAND In MOROCCO

In the Star of the 18th Instant the writer
in an article on the conference at Algeciras
suggested that. in order
franco-Spanish to s'saye the face OF
pronosi+;on Germany, France would
doubtless propose that
the policing of Morocco should be eonfided
to France and Spain. The cablegrams of
the Goth instant confirm this suggestion and
report at the same time the rejection of the
proposal by Germany.
II is significant that the German dele
gates like the Moroccans, have apparently
arranged for protracted residence at Al
seciras. and with the purpose of keeping
the conference In session while mani
Testing thus the superior and dictatorial
authority of Germany. It is doubtful, how
ever, Ii the conference may be disposed to
accept this pretension indefinitely. In any
event, France has already made known the
limits of her concessions and is now stand
ing pat
The correspondent at Algeciras Of the
Corriere della Sera has interviewed NJ Tat
tenbach, but mystified by his somewhat
enigmatfc responses, he sought a delegate
whose situation and recognized authority
preston he might make and he cites him
as saying:
M. Tattenbach errs always by an excess
siVe pessimfsm. He Is, besides the real a,l-
tnor or this Moroccan question by reason of
his natural pusnacity. Also he has the de-
feet of all technicians and specialists who
make of their specially the center of the
world In attributing to 1t an excessive i'm
portance. But at heart Tattenbach is also
very accessible TO good reasoning. Today
the negotiations are not in happy period,
but, believe me, added my illustrious in
teriocntor there Is an element which may
bring about a satisfactory solution
That element is the fear of the respon-
sibilfty OF causing the conference to fail and
thereby provoking consequences which,
near or distant, may be very grave AS for
us tthe conference). we should not leave
this apple of dfscord. Morocco to trouble
the peace of Europe. At the last moment
you will see the greatest f1exibility and the
greatest desire on all sides to arrange mat
ters."
The Debats of February says on this
point: IF the conference should fail. what
will happen? The German
III Ease OF press maintains that Germany
Failure will fall back upon the con-
vention of Madrid of 1880. But
that convention, it should be added. deals
with a situation quite different from that
presented now; 1t had no purpose of assur-
Ing order and security In Morocco. And
would be no question of order or security
in Morocco. Germany would make use to
her advantage of whatever influence she
might acquire over the Mokhzen. France
would do likewise, and In time. and the
fact of our being close neighbors would
surely restore our influence. Each, how
ever according to its means will act in the
same sense. This is not the object we had
planned, but if we are obliged to confine
ourselves to it, we can do so. 1t will be
better thus in any case than the introduce
ton into Morocco of European intrigues
which have already caused us some trou-
BILE. But an opportunity will have been
lost to accomplish in Morocco a work in
which all the world would have profited
We regret it. but France will not be held
to bear the responsibility by history"
SPANS pretensions in Morocco are based
upon her ancient relations, which date
from 1892, when Ferdinand
spain IN and Isabella succeeded under
Morocoo the united scepters of Aragon
and Castillo, in driving the
Moors from the peninsula They coincide
with the discovery of America, and when
Spain attained the apogee of her colonial
power under Charles and Philippe II.
During the course of the sixteenth GEN.
fury Spain engaged in expeditions along
the coast of the Barbary states. The dis
aster at Kasr-el-Kebir, where King Sebas-
tan of Portugal persisted with his army in
1878, marks period when Spain in posses
sion of an important piece of Moroccan ter
ritory and her best ports, was an a stua-
ton to absorb the country. The decline or
Spain after the defeat at Rocroy by the
Great Condo in 1912 left her with what is
known as presidios or garrisons named Pc
non de VeleZ. Alhucemas Melilla and the
more important port of Ceuta.
The treaty of peace and commerce signed
at Marrakech, May %. 1867. inaugurated
Tor Morocco her first official contract with
Europe. This treaty is interesting now. be-
cause of the recognition of the territorial
and geographical rights of Spain In Mo-
rocco Article / of the treaty says: Peace
will be constant and perpetual on sea and
land with mutual and cordial friendship be-
tween the two sovereigns and their respect
i've subjects.
Article 10. Spaniards who desert the pre-
sidios of Ceuta, Melilla. Penan de Veiez
and Alhucemas and Moors who may find
refuge there Will be Immediately given up
by the governors who have taken them I'M
less they shall have changed their religion.
Article IS. The sultan cannot undertake
to authorize the projected establishment by
Spaniards south OF OJeu Noun because his
sovereignty does not extend so far, and he
cannot be held responsible for the crimes
Of the ferocious and vagabond populations
who infest that section. He comedies the
right OF fishing from Santa Cruz.
ARTICLE 10. The sultan cannot authorize
the extension of the territory of the pre-
sidfos which have been fixed since long
time
Four years later Melilla was bombarded
by the sultan. who led the attack in per-
son. aud having remarked the non-effect of
his cannon he raised the siege. The SULTAN,
however oh ironyi made it condition the
Spaniards should transport in their galleys
his cannon to Tangier and Mogador. And
the Spaniards consented, assured that thus
the dismounted guns would not remain
pointed against Melilla. Notwithstanding
convention of peace signed in 1885, hos
Titles against Ceuta were renewed in 1890
*
In the meantime. in 1877, the United
States made a treaty with Morocco. signed
at London and Paris by John
Renewed Adams and Thomas Jeffer-
son. New negotiations be-
tween Spain and Morocco
ended In the treaty of Meknes. March l.
17T9 which renewed and completed the
treaties of 1867 and 1880 This last conven-
ton was a genuine diplomatic document
and really the first treaty of the kind be-
tween a Christian power and Mussulman
state. and is so maintained by NJ. Rouard
de Card in volume entitled Les Rela-
tions de rEspagne ct du Marco
The relations between Spain and Morocco
continued more observed by the latter in
spirit than in the letter of the treaties until