SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 327, 14 June 1911, Page 5

SPAIN AND MOROCCO.

A REVOLTING CRIME. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 13, 11.30 p.m. Ivladnd, June 13. A report from Alsazar states that one of Spain's motives in occupying Larache was to murder the Hamid Benmalek and two sons, who were Spanish proteges. The Pretender promised Hamid his life if he would eat the flesh of the murdered children. Hamid refused, and was instantly killed and his head kicked about like a football.

FIERCE FIGHTING. Received 1.1, 11.30 p.m. Tangier, June 13. General Monier occupied M equine/, on the Btii inst., after fierce fighting for seven hours. The French had one killed and five wounded. The Moors had fifty killed. A cable message dated Paris, .Tune 9. I stated: Spanish troops, which have hitherto been on shipboard at Larache. on the west coast of Morocco, occupied the town, owing to a harmless Moorish raid on Alcazar. Every Spanish advance is made under the impulsion of the military party in Spain, and increases the anxiety in France. Tt also tends to complicate the international situation, and enables Germany to interpose with demand.'.

The Algeeiras Conference, which is referred to in recent eaole messages, was held in lflOfi, and was attended hv representatives of Spain, Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria. Belgium, United States. Italy, Holland. Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Morocco. Ail agreement was drawn up and signed on April 7, providing for (1) the organisation of a police force under Spanish and French oflieers; (i) suppression of the contraband trade in arms; (3) a concession of a State Bank for forty years, worked hv censors appointed by the Banks of France, England and Spain and the Imperial Bank of Germany; (4) a scheme for the improved collection of taxes and the creation of new sources of revenue 1)V means of specified Customs duties; In) regulations as to Customs duties with a proviso that on the frontier of Algeria the regulation should he the exclusive affair of France and Morocco and similarly of Spain and Morocco in the Riff country; (I!) a recognition of the principle of economic freedom and the non-alienation of public services and public works. The agreement came into force on December 31, 1000. It is now stilted that Spain is endeavouring to close the Rill' country to all outsiders.