In the House of Commons on Thursday Mr. Bowles moved
the adjournment of the House because the Government would not undertake to suspend the prosecution of certain works on the west side of Gibraltar. Mr. Bowles was very vehement and very sarcastic because the Government would not instantly do what he wanted, but it seems to us that they were perfectly right in their action. Rightly or wrongly, the western works are very nearly finished, and by now suspend- ing them altogether not more than £300,000 will be saved. If, on the other hand, the works are discontinued and the £300,000 is saved, a vast deal of expenditure will be rendered practically valueless. In our view, the wisest thing is to spend the £300,000, and then consider the question of the eastern works on its merits. These eastern works must take at least ten years to finish, and during that period—supposing the eastern works are adopted—it is a great deal better to have the western works than nothing. In any case the Government will very shortly give their decision on the whole matter, and we can see no possible ground for. Mr. Bowles's anticipatory heroics. The Government majority in opposing the adjourn- ment was 59 (216 to 157). In our own opinion, the best way of protecting the western side of Gibraltar is to make a treaty with Spain guaranteeing to her the reversion of Tetuan, Tangier, and the adjacent districts in case of the break-up of the Empire of Morocco. " France should then be asked to accede to that treaty, which she would hardly refuse, as it would be understood that we and Spain ceased to be interested in the reversion of the rest of Morocco.
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