Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1178

 1056 MOROCCO

states of America, was held at Algeciras for the settlement of disputed matters, from January 16 to April 7, 1906, when an agreement, embodied in a General Act, was signed by all the delegates. The Sultan signed the agreement on June 18, and ratifications of the Agreement were deposited at Madrid by the other Powers, December 31, 1906. (For particulars of the Treaty see Statesman's Year Book for 1912.)

In 1909 disturbances occurred in the neighbourhood of Melilla arising from an attack by RiflSans on Spaniards working on a railroad being laid from that town to some mines a few miles distant, Spain sent a large force and severe fighting ensued, ending in the subjugation of the tribes and the occu- pation by Spain of a considerable tract of country extending eastwards to Cabo de Agua and southwards to Seluan.

After remaining quiet for some months the tribes near Melilla again attacked the Spaniards in the summer of 1911. In June, the Spanish Government despatched vessels of war to Laraiche and landed a force, which marched to Alcazar to protect the Spaniards at that place. Further contin- gents of Spanish troops continued to arrive, and occupied all the district between Laraiche, Alcazar, and Arzila.

In July, 1911, the German Government sent a cruiser to Agadir, inform- ing the Sultan and the Eui'opean powers that their object was to protect German interests in that place. Negotiations were thereupon entered into l:»et\veen France and Germany, and after lasting about three months eventually terminated in the signature of two Agreements (Nov. 4, 1911), under which German}^ renounces all political interests in Morocco and practically agrees to the establishment of a French protectorate, receiving in exchange ample guarantees for absolute equality in economic and commercial matters, and the cession of a considerable tract of country in the French Congo. {See map, Statesman's Year Book for 1912.)

In April, 1912, a treaty was signed at Fez by which the Sultan formally accepted the French Protectorate. This has been recognised by Germany and England.

France is represented in Morocco by a Resident-General (an office created April 28, 1912), who exercises civil and military powers, under the sovereignty of the Sultan, in the interest of the French Protectorate, and with due regard for the treaty rights of other powers. The Resident- General is assisted by a Deputy Resident and a Secretary-General. The ncAv Resident- General is under the direct control of the Foreign Office, where a Special Moroccan Department has been created.

The negotiations between France and Spain as to their respective rights in Morocco came to an end in the Franco- Spanish Treaty of Madrid, signed on November 27, 1912. In this France acknov/ledges the right of Spain to exercise its protectorate in the Spanish zone, the extent of which is clearly defined. {Sec map in this issue, ) The zones will be administered, under the control of a Spanish High Commissioner, by a Calipha (whose head- quarters shall be at Tetuan) chosen by the Sultan from a list of two candi- dates presented by the Spanish Government. It was further agreed that Tangier and its district should be excluded from the Spanish zone, and become a special international zone, some 140 square miles in extent.

A protocol attached to the Treaty provides for the rapid planning, con- struction, and exploration of the railway from Tangier to Fez, the first line to be built in the Empire. The capital of the company shall be 60 per cent. French and 40 per cent. Spanish. The line shall comprise three sections, corresponding (1) to the International zone of Tangier, (2) the Spanish Northern zone, and (3) the French zone.