Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1138

 1086 MOROCCO

The estimated revenue of the Spanish zone for the year 1920-21 was 566,640/., and the expenditure was 566,640/. Cost to Spain of the Spanish Zono:— (1920-21) Foreign Office, 9,836,900 pesetas; Ministry of War, 147,893,469 pesetas ; Ministry of Marine, 5,392,460 pesetas ; Miuutry of the, Interior, 2,148,467 pesetas; and Ministry of Public Works, 3,692,000 pesetas ; making a total cost to Spain of 168,963,296 pesetas.

The Moroccan debt consists of French loans (1904, 1910, 1914) amounting to 16,224,9602. ; and French and Spanish war indemnities, 5,300,0002. The French Government, however, decided not to require the Moorish Govern- ment to pay the annuities on their war indemnity (2,800,0002.) until its financial position enables it to support the charge. The 1904 loan amounted to 2,500,000/. and bears interest at 5 per cent. The 1910 loan was for 4,044,9602. and also bore interest at 5 per cent. The 1914 loan, guaranteed by the French Government, was for 6,810,000/., and is to be issued at a rate of interest not exceeding 4'6 per cent. By a law dated March 25, 1916, the 1914 loan was increased to 9,680,000/., thus bringing the total Moroccan debt to 16,224,9602. for loans.

Defence.

The Sherifian army is under the supreme command of the Rebident- General. The military forces in Morocco are divided into five areas : Rabat, Casablanca, Meknes, Fez, Marrakesh and Taza. Each area is commanded by a General Officer, who, except at Rabat and Casablanca, is in charge ol the troops, the civil service and the municipality. The total number ol troops on March 1, 1920, was 72,297, made up as follows : — (a) Metropolitan troops :— Staff and general services, 380; staff and special services, 974 ; metropolitan infantry, 17,481 ; cavalry, 3,419 ; artillery, 3,092 ; engineers, 1,912 ; aviation, 743 ; train and automobile services, 4,'.)61 ; administrative troops, 707; gendarmerie, 257; gouins, 4,619; makhzens, 2,987; parti- sans, 565 ; mehallas, 1,825; and Moroccan auxiliary troops, 14,129. (I>) Colonial troops: — Staff and services, 42 ; infantry, 12,217 ; and artillery, 1,987.

The Spanish zone is divided for military purposes into two zones, under the command of a general stationed at Tetuau.

In addition to the regular native forces, the Calipha of the Spanish zone has a bodyguard of about 1,000 men the cost of which to Spain is 1,448,335 pesetas.

Production and Industry.

The interior of Morocco, although generally open to travellers, is not permanently occupiable as yet on account of lack of security to both life and property. Immigration is confined principally to the towns and especially to the ports and neighbouring districts. Morocco, therefore, is still in the rudimentary stages of both economic and commercial development, though great progress has recently been made, particularly in the French zone, where measures have been adopted to encourage colonisation, land being sold to Europeans at a comparatively low price lor fanning purposes on condition that Europeans settle thereon and tarm by Kuropcan methods. Several ex- perimental farms and nursery gardens have been established by the French and Spanish Protectorate Authorities.

The soil is capable of agricultural production, but the methods in in are somewhat primitive. The yield of crops (in metric quintals of 22 pounds) in 1919 is given as follows: — barley, 5,746,681 ; wheat, 4,460,931