§ *MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the recommendations of the Algeciras Conference, approved of by the Sultan of Morocco, have in any way altered the conditions under which Europeans can obtain titles to land in that country.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI beg leave to refer the hon. Member to Article 60 of the General Act of the Algeciras Conference, which has been laid before Parliament. It lays down that in conformity with the right recognised as belonging to them by Article 11 of the Madrid Convention, foreigners shall not, except for proper reasons, be hindered from acquiring land throughout the whole of Morocco, while "In the ports open to trade, and within a radius of ten kilometres round such ports,"the consent of the Sultan's Government is granted "In a general manner, without such consent having henceforth to be obtained specially in respect of each purchase."
In reply to a supplementary Question, Sir Edward Grey said the Act would not have a retrospective effect, and consequently would not apply to land sold at Tangiers before it was passed.