SPAIN, MOROCCO, AND ENGLAND.
The Gazette of Tuesday contained copies of a correspondence on the intentions of Spain in mating war on Morocco between Lord John Russell and Mr. Buchanan, our Minister at Madrid, and Mr. Buchanan and Seiler Calderon Collantes, the Spanish Foreign Secretary.
The first papers are copies of the notice of the effective blockade of Tangier, Tetuan, and Larrache by the competent number of vessels of the Spanish Navy. Then follows the correspondence which had pre- viously taken place with regard to the intentions of Spain. Lord John Russell states on the 22d September, that the differences " appear to have arisen from outrages committed by Moors in the vicinity of Ceuta, but that those outrages appear to have been provoked by the excitements and defiances of the Governor of Ceuta." Ho further says that the British Government will not interpose, if redress alone is sought by Spain ; but "if the out ages of the wild Moorish tribes are to be made a ground for conquest, and especially on the coast, her Majesty's Go- vernment are bound to look to the security of the fortress of Gibraltar." Mr. Buchanan was to ask for a declaration in writing that Spain would not permanently occupy Tangier, nor occupy it until an indemnity is paid, such occupation being held " inconsistent with the safety of Gi- braltar." Mr. Buchanan did so, and on the 6th of October, Senor Collantes replied. The gist of his answer is that Spain did not yield to, a preexisting desire of conquest, but was influenced only by the duty of defending its dignity and honour. At the same time, if compelled to make war, they looked to the conclusion "of agreements which may tend to give efficacious, material guarantees for preventing the repetition of similar outrages." Supposing it necessary to occupy Tangier, they would not continue to occupy it after the question had been favourably and definitively settled by treaty.
Lord John Russell informed Mr. Buchanan on the 15th of October that her Majesty's Government accepted the assurance with pleasure. "You will further state to his Excellency that her Majesty's Government earnestly desire that there may be no change of possession on the Moorish coast of the straits. The importance they attach to this object cannot be overrated : and it would be impossible for them, or, indeed, for any other maritime Power, to see with indifference the permanent occupation by Spain of such a position on that coast as would enable her to impede the passage of the straits to ships frequenting the Mediterranean for emptier:Sal or any other purposes." On the 21st of October, Mr. Buchanan, remarking that Spain was about to declare war because Morocco would not cede a certain territory lying between Ceuta and the Sierra Bullories, expressed an apprehen- sion that the cession of this territory would compromise the freedom of the Straits of Gibraltar ; and he therefore askedSchor Collantes to name the points on the coast which Spain desired to possess. On the same day Senor Collantes replied by saying that it was difficult, if not impossible, to determine the nature of the guarantees to be demanded, as much would depend on the result of military operations.
"Notwithstanding this, the Government of the Queen, my Sovereign, who have given so many and such marked proofs of their conciliatory and upright spirit in the different incidents which have sprung from the ques- tion with Morocco, will not vary the intentions which they had formed from the beginning of that question not to occupy any point on the straits whose position could afford to Spain a superiority dangerous to the navigation. In this matter their ideas have been always so disinterested and loyal that they cannot believe that any doubt can have been conceived with regard to them. Nevertheless, her Majesty's Government, in whose name I have re- peatedly offered to you the explanations necessary for dissipating every species of doubt, if by chance it had been conceived with respect to their intentions, do not wish to omit the statement made above, feeling sure that her Britannic Majesty's Government, in asking for it, have no other object than to secure the safety of the interests of Great Britain, and not in any manner to interfere in the contest which is about to be enagaged in between two independent nations."
Polite as the Spaniards are to England, they are not so polite to the Moors. Their ultimatum is conceived in the most insolent spirit, and couched in the most domineering language. The reply of the 31oorish Minister is firm, but courteous and dignified, and very creditable to himself and his Government. The Moors had evidently offered every satisfaction short of what the Spaniard coveted—more territory.
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