24 JANUARY 1925, Page 3

The Marquis de Estella has returned to Spain to deal

with the disturbed political situation there. He has stated definitely that the retreat in Morocco is only tactical, and that Spain intends to fulfil her international obliga- tions. by eventually reoccupying the whole of her area. We must confess that if we were .of the Spanish people we should hear this statement with dismay. We cannot help feeling that, international obligations or no inter- national obligations, the duty of any really far-seeing Spanish Governor would be to cut the losses in Morocco, and evacuate the whole country, except coastal towns such as Ceuta and Melilla. We suppose, however, that this is too much to hope for, and we admit that it would cause embarrassment to the other Western Powers.