OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 4 July 1861)

§ MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD

Sir, the few words that dropped from the noble Lord at the head of the Foreign Department, in reference to the subject brought forward by the hon. Baronet, the Member for Tamworth, are, in my opinion, of so much importance that I am obliged, however unwillingly, to trespass on the time of the House for a few moments, by addressing to it some observations on that subject. The noble Lord in the early part of last Session showed himself very sensible of the importance of this question, and in this House he took an opportunity of assuring us that he had obtained from the Spanish Government a positive promise that they would not permanently occupy any part of the Morocco coast west of Ceuta. We have had presented to us also the despatches which the noble Lord at that time thought it his duty to address to the Spanish Court. On the 22nd of December, 1859, the noble Lord writes the following despatch to Sir Andrew Buchanan, our Minister at Madrid:— With reference to the preparations making in Spain, with a view to hostilities in Morocco, I wish you to observe to the President of the Council and to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that the differences between the Governments of Spain and Morocco appear to have arisen from outrages committed by the Moors in the vicinity of Ceuta; but that these outrages appear to have been provoked by the defiances of the Governor of Ceuta. If the Spanish Government only seeks redress for wrongs and vindication of their honour, Her Majesty's Government will not interpose any obstacle to their obtaining such reparation. But if the outrages of the wild Moorish tribes are to be made a ground for conquest, especially on the coast, Her Majesty's Government are bound to look to the security of the fortress of Gibraltar. You are, therefore, instructed to ask for a declara- 313 tion in writing, that if the Spanish troops in the course of hostilites occupy Tangier, that occupation will be temporary, and not extend beyond the ratification of a treaty of peace between Spain and Morocco. For an occupation till an indemnity is paid might become a permanent occupation, and such permanent occupation Her Majesty's Government considers inconsistent with the safety of Gibraltar. The noble Lord had now informed the House that the occupation of Tetuan is not, in his opinion, an occupation coming within the views expressed in that despatch. It is impossible, however, for the Spanish Government to occupy Tetuan without having immediate communication between that place and the coast, and no person can doubt for a moment that, so far from being satisfied with the occupation of Tetuan, they will insist upon the occupation of some territory in the immediate neighbourhood of the town. I need not remind the noble Lord, because he is well aware of everything that has passed between this country and Spain, as to the possibility of her occupying any portion of the Moorish territory—I need not remind him of the emphatic language which the Duke of Wellington held upon this subject. He is aware also of the course which the noble Lord at the head of the Government, when he was foreign Minister, took on this question; and I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing my hope that we shall hear from some one of his Colleagues, as the noble Lord is precluded from again addressing the House, that the noble Lord has addressed a vigorous and earnest remonstrance against the permanent occupation of Tetuan, or any other portion of the Moorish territory, and that he has echoed the language of the Duke of Wellington, that the English Government will not see unmoved the occupation of any territory which seriously endangers the security of Gibraltar. I regret the more that the noble Lord has spoken in the terms he has done, because they almost amount to an acknowledgment from the noble Lord that the Government of England does not consider the occupation of Tetuan what I believe it in truth to be—a serious attempt on the part of the Spanish Government to extend their territory on the coast of Morocco. For my part I believe that the permanent occupation on the part of Spain of a single inch of Moorish territory is a proceeding which England ought not to permit, and which she ought to do her utmost to percent.