The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15th, 1924. THE SPANISH IN MOROCCO.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15th, 1924. THE SPANISH IN MOROCCO.

Recent English files to hand contain an account of the intention of the Spaniards with regard to the occupation of their territory in North Morocco. Although their occupation of the Ceuta and other places in Morocco dates from the fifteenth century, their dominion in the interior of the country has always been uncertain. Of late

the .struggle to maintain their hold has seemed scarcely worth the prize and their decision to retire from their outposts was not unexpected, although .Spanish pride must have suffered considerably owing tn recent events. In an interview which he gave to a re- | resentative of the “Journal. ’’ a Paris paper, de Kstella, the President of the Spanish Directory, denied vigorously that it was his intent ion to ultimnlcly .diandon the Spanish y.one in Morocco with the exception of four or live inifortant places on the coast. ‘‘What has happened,” he said, in effect, “is that in spite of centuries of experience in Africa a great mistake lias been made in our system of occupation. In the course of a few years we have covered this country of difficult communications with a large number of little posts. Do you realise that we have from one end to the other of our zone, some 100 blockhouses sir fortified works, occupied by effective garrisons of from ten to lOf) men? These posts absorbed altogether more than 20,000 troops. As most of the posts were naturally on high ground the water supply was a great difficulty. As soon as the enemy were in a position to snipe water-car-riers, the best garrison had to surrender in a fortnight.” Asked liow the rebels came to be so well armed, the Marquis explained that the posts which surrendered were very well supplied with arms and ammunition and with modern equipment of all kinds. Me did not hc-

lieve that there was much contraband supply of arms at the present time. Formerly the rebels paid; odOf. (about six pounds five shillings) for rilles which wore worth o()f., and gave as milch as 10 centimes for a round of ammunition. As for money, Spain has had to pay. for example, four million francs (about forty-seven ' thousand one hundred pounds) at one time for the release of prisoners, and further, an English syndicate. acting no doubt quite independently of the British Government, had paid a first instalment of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds on account of mining concessions. As for his future plans, General Primo de Rivera said that he intended to relieve the Spanish posts which were still surrounded and do a certain amount of clearing up in the districts which marched with the French zone. That, unfortunately, would probably mean a

loss of 20!) or 301) killed or wounded. As soon as he had got his men back, he would establish in the neighbourhood of the cast, and for a reasonable distance Sr.to the interior, a series of extremely solid bases. The natives within this pacified zone would have all the amenities which civilisation could provide in a country of this kind in the shape of railways, roads, posts, and markets. Outside this zone nothing would lie done lint- any natives who wished to come in to trade would be able to do so on condition of surrendering their rifles. Any agreement with Abd-EI-Krim. or any recognition of a Ritian State, was impossible from every point of view. He was resolved to win. and he would win. The most recent cable news, however, leads-us to believe that the withdrawal will Ice more wholesale that the Spaniards intended. extending possibly even to the coastal districts.

Ff.w subjects seem to be so much a matter of discussion among tile pulilir men in Great Britain as Imperial relationships. This is evident not merely from cabled information hut from a perusal of the leading journals. No questions are put so definitely in front o.f readers. as Imperial Preference, Inter-Em-pire Settlement. Dominion Status, Dominion Representation in Foreign Capitals. and so on. The discussion that took place at the Overseas Imperial Institute a few days ago reveals a real misgiving on the part of those wellqualified to judge, as to the wisdom of pushing too far the idea of a Dominion National Status. Equality of status within the Empire should be tbe ideal: but in tbe sphere of foreign policy, there is no safety ui a multitude of

counsellors. If tlio ‘Empire is to speak, it must speak with one voice. Sir G. E. Foster, of Canada, said that although Canada had asked for separate representation at Washington, she had not availed herself of her right to appoint a member, and lie hoped that there would he careful consideration before taking the first step prejudicial to the single voice of the Empire in foreign policy. Lord Sol bourne enforced the argument by conjuring up the inconvenience that must have arisen if the Free State had had an Anilxi.ssador at Cairo as well as at Washington. The position is. indeed, one that might well make the Dominion governments pause, especially when their actual weight in foreign matters, counts for practically nothing, owing to their lack of power to enforce demands.