Empire Rise: Spain

Chapter 89: The British Response

This colonial war launched by the Spanish Government ended just like that.

Even before the war was launched, Prime Minister Primó had considered what the purpose of this war really was, that is, what Spain wanted to obtain in this war.

Since the British Government had already agreed to Spain’s occupation of the coastline near Agadir in southern Morocco, and also agreed to the Moroccan Government’s indemnity to the Spanish Government, it was natural that this war could end.

Unfortunately, such things were destined not to happen again. Otherwise, if it happened once a year, the Spanish Government would have a clear path for the industrial development funds it lacked.

On October 2, 1870, under the witness of the British Ambassador, the Spanish Government and the Moroccan Government began peace negotiations in Ceuta to end this war.

Unlike the brief meeting between British Ambassador William and Prime Minister Primó before, this peace talk concerned the interests between Spain and Morocco, and was bound to involve a lot of haggling.

The peace talks could last as short as a few days, or as long as more than ten days or even a month. Only when a peace agreement acceptable to both sides was confirmed could the peace talks truly end.

After reaching a compromise with British Ambassador William, Prime Minister Primó reported to Carlo, informing him that the peace talks and the war were about to end.

Carlo was still a bit regretful. The war had only broken out a few days ago, Camann and Andrew had just rushed to the battlefield, and it was clear they wouldn’t get any honors.

However, as long as it was guaranteed that the Spanish Government could harvest more land and indemnity in this war, it would also be good news. Time came to October 2, and the peace negotiations in Ceuta officially began.

Spain’s diplomatic representative immediately put forward two demands from Spain, one was land, and the other was funds.

The Spanish Government demanded that all Moroccan regions south of the line from Agadir to Tata belong to the Spanish Government, as compensation from the Moroccan Government to the Spanish Government and commoners.

Secondly, the Moroccan Government needed to pay 350 million pesetas in indemnity to the Spanish Government. Of which, 200 million pesetas were the expenses of Spain’s military action this time, which should rightfully be borne by the Moroccan Government.

The remaining 150 million pesetas were compensation for the Spanish commoners and soldiers killed in this war, as well as the fees for the Spanish Army to withdraw from Moroccan territory.

There was an additional requirement that the Moroccan Government establish a demilitarized zone in the Tangier, Tetouan, and Ceuta triangle, where the Moroccan Army was not allowed to enter, to prevent similar conflicts from happening again.

Now the Moroccan Government’s representative could no longer sit still.

The three conditions were each more outrageous than the last, simply putting the Moroccan Government representative on fire.

Although Agadir was known as the largest city in southern Morocco, Agadir’s geographical location was more towards the central part.

The land south of the line from Agadir to Tata was not small, and for Morocco, it was already close to one-sixth of the territory.

Although the population here was not large compared to the northern region, ceding nearly one-sixth of the territory at once was something the Moroccan Government absolutely could not agree to.

The second was the 350 million pesetas indemnity.

This indemnity was completely an astronomical figure for the Moroccan Government, impossible to come up with even by selling everything.

Plus the demilitarized zone required by the last condition, the Moroccan Government had not become Spain’s colony, but what difference did it make from becoming Spain’s colony?

“No, this is fundamentally impossible.” The Moroccan Government representative stood up in shock, casting an angry gaze at Spain’s government representative, and directly refused: “We cannot agree to such demands, absolutely not.”

“Then it’s easy.” The Spanish Government representative smiled and nodded, not caring about the Moroccan Government representative at all: “Then let the war continue, and let the outcome of the war speak.

But as a friendly reminder to your country, once we invest more funds in this war, the indemnity after your country’s defeat will be even more.”

Hearing Spain’s threat, the Moroccan Government representative quickly turned his gaze to British Ambassador William, seeking help from the British side.

The British naturally could not sit idly by and watch the negotiations break down. If the war really continued, the development of the situation would no longer be under the British’ control.

“Gentlemen, since you have all come here together, it proves that everyone has the willingness for peace talks.

I propose that both sides take a step back and strive to reach a peace agreement acceptable to both.

Considering the specific economic situation of the Moroccan Government, I believe that the 350 million pesetas indemnity is unreasonable and an unbearable burden for the Moroccan Government.” British Ambassador William stood up, trying to bring the peace talks back on track: “

How about this, today’s negotiations end here. Both sides draft a more reasonable set of peace demands, and we discuss again tomorrow?”

The first day’s peace negotiations ended with no progress.

The Spanish representatives remained very relaxed, as Morocco was now like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and it was impossible without paying some heavy price.

This was also a characteristic of this era: underdeveloped countries had to be prepared at all times to be invaded and plundered by more powerful countries.

The saying “the backward will be beaten” was very reasonable; the law of the jungle was the only truth in this era.

On the Moroccan side, after the first day’s negotiations ended, the Moroccan representative immediately approached British Ambassador William, seeking his help.

“Respected British Ambassador, Spain’s demands are fundamentally unacceptable to Morocco. We request the powerful British Government’s help, and we are willing to pay the corresponding price.” The Moroccan ambassador said straightforwardly to William.

“Sir, I sympathize greatly with your government’s plight.” British Ambassador William first put on a helpless expression, and said very regretfully to the Moroccan Government representative: “But as you know, even though the British Empire is extremely powerful, it cannot arbitrarily intervene in the decisions of other countries.

Letting Spain abandon its demands for northern Morocco land is already the limit of what we can do for your country. The Spaniards will not give up the idea of colonizing Morocco, and we deeply regret this.”

Although the British Government could accept Spain annexing the land of southern Morocco, this did not mean the British would not cause some trouble for Spain.

Inciting Moroccans to more intense resistance against Spain through this incident was something the British Government had long planned internally.

Since Spain had the audacity to launch a war against Morocco and occupy Moroccan land as a colony, Spain should also bear the Moroccans’ resistance against Spain, as well as the hatred for their territory being invaded.

This way, even if Spain could obtain a not-small-scale colony through this war, they would be exhausted from long-term suppression of Moroccan resistance, and even pay more than they gained.

With the Spaniards busy suppressing Morocco’s rebellion, they naturally would have no time to have ideas about the British’ Gibraltar.

Plus the rebels in Cuba and the Philippines, the rebellions in these three colonies would be enough to make the Spanish Government overwhelmed, and it might even force Spain to expend massive funds and manpower for a long time, ultimately weakening its national strength and thoroughly turning into a country unable to pose any threat to Britain.

Feeling unwell today, taking a day off, just one update. Continuing with daily ten thousand tomorrow!